Loan pledge is proving just too expensive??? We need to start making calls

[DFLer4edu]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/04/AR2007010400802_2.html

Take a look at the bottom of this article. I think it's time we start calling our Representatives and urging them not to phase it in, but to just do it. If they can't find the money for this, what are they going to be able to find the money for? THey are eventually going to have to get real. They need to reduce spending (Iraq) and raise revenue (the unjust parts of the Bush tax cuts).

Democrats are already having trouble reconciling their promises even for the initial hundred-hour blitz. Senior House Democratic aides said a promise to cut student-loan interest rates in half will have to be phased in over five years to comply with a pledge to offset any additional deficit spending with equal spending cuts or tax hikes.

The loan pledge is proving just too expensive, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the committee's senior Republican, Charles E. Grassley (Iowa) introduced legislation yesterday to immediately repeal the alternative minimum tax. That proposal would cost the Treasury hundreds of billions of dollars.

I just called Ellison, my congressman, and I'd encourage you to do the same. You can look them up with this link http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt?command=congdir

[Atman]

1. This isn't difficult at all...the brazillionaires just give back 1/10 of 1%

of their tax cut and the program will be fully funded.

Same for EVERY program we're talking about. Just get the money back from the people who shouldn't have received it in the first place. It ain't rocket science.

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[DFLer4edu]

3. It's this type of thinking that comes up with these things

We need to deal with the Bush tax cuts more generally. They are beating around the Bush.

[Atman]

4. Uhm...I'm not sure what you just said...

"This type of thinking comes up with these things?"

So, then, a different type of thinking comes up with DIFFERENT things? I'm just not sure what you're saying/doing. Was your post a slap, or an affirmation, or what? Thinking, in general, comes up with ideas. I do think one big acros-the-board increase for the 1% would be better, and easy to sell. Rather once than several times (giving the "Democrats increased your taxes X times!" sound bites to the republics), one big tax bill for the 1% bill - "Re-funding America" - could do it.

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[Jacobin]

2. Well, poor college kids struggling for an education can just suck it

Gee thanks, dems.