Grover Norquist and the GOP’s purity pledge
U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, like Senate colleague Johnny Isakson and seven of Georgia’s eight GOP congressmen, has signed a public pledge to never, under any circumstances, increase taxes.
Yet Chambliss, to his credit, has been working for months as one of six senators — three Republican, three Democrat — trying to negotiate a possible deficit reduction package.
The other two Republicans in that group, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Mike Crapo of Idaho — have also signed the no-tax-increase-ever pledge. Yet all three are willing to acknowledge the reality that increased taxes would have to be part — in their minds a small part — of any workable deal to reduce the budget deficit.
In a meeting at the AJC last month, Chambliss recounted conversations with many of his colleagues in Washington, as well as many top business executives, in which they quietly encouraged him in his efforts to reach a deal. They too seem to realize that a mixture of spending cuts and tax increases will be needed to stabilize the debt.
But that response has been far from unanimous.
Just this week, House Speaker John Boehner said tax increases are “off the table,” and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was even more point blank:
“We’re not going to raise taxes. That was decided in last November’s election. I think the American people pretty clearly believe that we have the deficit problem because we spend too much, not because we tax too little.”
Grover Norquist, the head of Americans for Tax Reform and as such the self-ordained organizer, marketer and enforcer of the no-new-taxes pledge, had even less reason to be pleased. Once news of their effort became public, Norquist accused Chambliss and his GOP colleagues of lying to the American people and demanded that they withdraw from negotiations.
While the senators have not bowed to that demand, hope seems to be fading that their effort will produce a deal. And it’s impossible to know what effect, if any, Norquist’s foot-stomping may have had on frustrating those negotiations.
However, there’s no doubt that Norquist takes his role as enforcer seriously, and not merely out of conviction. The pledge, which he serves as sponsor and arbiter, represents the very foundation of his political power and relevance. It is, in effect, his livelihood. If signatories such as Chambliss ever begin to abandon the pledge, if the dam begins to break, Norquist becomes a much diminished figure.
As one measure of his considerable power, earlier this year Georgia Republicans refused to move forward with their proposal to revamp the state’s tax structure until Norquist could be consulted and give it his blessing. When Norquist balked, legislators then agreed to rewrite the bill to accommodate his demands.
That’s a remarkable amount of authority to hand some unelected, out-of-state nonprofit bureaucrat from Washington. But it becomes easier to understand once you look at the list of state officials who have committed themselves to the Norquist pledge.
According to a list on Norquist’s website, Gov. Nathan Deal, House Speaker David Ralston, Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers, House Ways and Means Chairman Larry O’Neal, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bill Heath and 50 other legislators have all signed an oath to never, under any conditions, agree to raise government revenue.
As the crotchety Coburn from Oklahoma put it, responding to Norquist:
“Which pledge is most important… the pledge to uphold your oath to the Constitution of the United States or a pledge from a special interest group who claims to speak for all American conservatives when, in fact, they really don’t?”
– Jay Bookman
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290 comments Add your comment
CJ
May 13th, 2011
10:08 am
Jay,
If you haven’t already, I wish you’d educate your readers about “The People’s Budget.” Produced by the House Congressional Progressive Caucus, this proposal balances the budget decades faster than Paul Ryan’s proposed budget.
I’ve always said, if you want a fiscal conservative, look to the liberals: http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=70
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:08 am
AmVet 10:04 – I think they’re pretty evenly matched. (Corp v. Unions) If you look under the Obama bedsheets, you’ll see $100’s of millions in union contributions.
What I’m mainly saying about Ron Paul, is, while a well meaning guy, he’s just crazy and doesn’t have a clue…. he holds his views because there is a lot of corruption in DC, and he reacts naturally against it. But his solutions are not the right ones.
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
10:09 am
Really? Then why don’t I ever see all my paycheck before the money I earned is confiscated by the government?
It’s the same reason I don’t get to see all of mine before the government consfiscates a good hunk of it…
Living in America isn’t free, even though it’s thought of as “The Land of the Free”. That land and it’s upkeep costs money.
Joe The Plumber too.
May 13th, 2011
10:09 am
getabrain keeps trying to have an original thought, he just can’t quite get there. He should try barry the boy blunders web page, perhaps he could borrow one, after all it works for jay and cindy-loo-who.
getalife
May 13th, 2011
10:09 am
When the gop votes no on ending big oil welfare while trying to steal your Medicare, stand up and scream at them until they force you to leave.
You will win this argument and the gop will collapse.
AmVet
May 13th, 2011
10:10 am
Ron Paul decries the massive mistakes and deadly debacles of the modern day, crusading empire builders in his own party.
He speaks to that.
And why the Party of Permanent War despises him…
Dave R.
May 13th, 2011
10:10 am
“I’ve always said, if you want a fiscal conservative, look to the liberals: ”
All that deserves is this:
Balancing a budget with massive tax increases and no real cuts in spending does not equal fiscal conservatism.
Except on Jupiter.
Don't Forget
May 13th, 2011
10:10 am
It was less than 10 years ago that Cheney said to Paul O’Neil “You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,” Now they run around like chicken little, threatening to default on our debts and insisting we have the elderly and poor pay for their little spending/tax cut binge. Meanwhile their sweetheart tax loopholes are “off the table”.
Doggone/GA
May 13th, 2011
10:10 am
“Taxpayer money pays union dues for union members, and that money goes to the unions…and then the unions contribute to political campaigns. Easy to follow right?”
Easy to follow? Sure. Wrong? Yes
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:11 am
“No jail sentences on those who make under $250K. ”
Oh good, LWM is pro-anarchy
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:12 am
Don’t Forget 10:10 – and it was 3 years ago that Dems were screaming about deficits when they were 3% of GDP. Now that they’re 12% of GDP, they’re not a big deal….. hmmm…..
AmVet
May 13th, 2011
10:12 am
getalife, did you see this?
It’s bound to further PO your new fan…
http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/
Midori
May 13th, 2011
10:12 am
I am virulently sick of Democrats. If I was a completely charitable person, I’d give all my money to the RNC right now…..
as if we are not sick of YOU???
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
10:14 am
Easy to follow right?
Only in the Land of Make Believe. Once the taxpayer’s money is used to pay for the labor that the public sector worker performs, that money changes possession and ownership to the person performing the labor. Do you consider the money you’re paid for your labor as money belonging to your employer when you’re spending it, or does it belong to you? Even easier to follow if you actually think real life and not fantasyland, right?
Dave 10:07
EOI much?
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:14 am
Midori 10:12 – sorry to be a thorn in your side. Delivering truth and facts to the ignorant…. its clearly become a part time job. Let learning be cherished where liberty has arisen. Some here are still in mental shackles and chains.
Dave R.
May 13th, 2011
10:15 am
“It was less than 10 years ago that Cheney said to Paul O’Neil “You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,”
Yeah. WHEN REFERENCING ELECTIONS IN THE 1980’s!
You can parse it 50 times, or 100 times, and that quote still doesn’t mean a tinker’s damn to any discussion about whether the newest incarnation of the GOP should or should not be addressing this deficit.
getalife
May 13th, 2011
10:16 am
AmVet,
Perfect toon.
Joe,
Get your stinking gop corrupt hands off Medicare and SS.
Got it?
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:17 am
love Mccain. despise Glenn Beck
So the host went straight to the one-two punch: Glenn Beck’s on-air puke fest. What, asked King, did the senator make of someone who, upon mention of his daughter’s name, would “false vomit for an extended period of time?”
“I don’t think I should dignify that kind of behavior with a comment,” replied McCain.
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1105/john_mccain_joins_family_feud_vs_beck.html
Mick
May 13th, 2011
10:18 am
**Some here are still in mental shackles and chains.**
Looking in the mirror again?
Adam
May 13th, 2011
10:18 am
How about for the Congress, you sign a purity pledge to keep your campaign promises, complete with a reminder list handed to you every so often of everything you ever promised on your campaign (so you don’t forget)? Instead of immediately abandoning your campaign promises in favor of voting in lockstep? The “Democrats want to kill medicare but I won’t” promises come to mind. Oh, and KNOWING your vote isn’t going to cause any real legislative change doesn’t count as a loophole.
Don't Forget
May 13th, 2011
10:19 am
jm, please back up your claim that democrats are saying that deficits are “no big deal”
It is pure bs.
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:19 am
talk about a someone on repeat: getalife. take your own advice
Dave R.
May 13th, 2011
10:19 am
Some days more than others, SoCo.
Joe The Plumber too.
May 13th, 2011
10:20 am
your ebt card has been fully charged, bless your heart.
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:20 am
Don’t Forget 10:19 – “hands off social security and medicare and medicaid”. “and tax increases only for those making more than $250k”
Well if hands are off entitlements (the bulk of the budget), and they won’t raise taxes enough to fix the deficit, then they’re pro-deficit.
Ie, they’re pro-destruction of america.
Adam
May 13th, 2011
10:21 am
Dave R: The “deficits don’t matter” quote was used as a justification for the tax cuts. That’s hardly ONLY referencing the 1980s.
Don't Forget
May 13th, 2011
10:21 am
Yeah. WHEN REFERENCING ELECTIONS IN THE 1980’s!
You can parse it 50 times, or 100 times, and that quote still doesn’t mean a tinker’s damn to any discussion about whether the newest incarnation of the GOP should or should not be addressing this deficit.
More republican distortion and deception. Just twist the facts to suit your needs.
O’Neill said he tried to warn Vice President Dick Cheney that growing budget deficits-expected to top $500 billion this fiscal year alone-posed a threat to the economy. Cheney cut him off. “You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don’t matter,” he said, according to excerpts. Cheney continued: “We won the midterms (congressional elections). This is our due.” A month later, Cheney told the Treasury secretary he was fired.
Left wing management
May 13th, 2011
10:21 am
jm: “Oh good, LWM is pro-anarchy”
You don’t know the half of it, dude. Anarchy’s coming one way or another if the disease afflicting our country isn’t overcome. And the GOP is right up at the front among those who are busy digging our grave.
By the way, did you see those oil execs who puffed and posed yesterday at the congressional hearing yesterday? That’s your true anarchists.
Yahtzee
May 13th, 2011
10:23 am
SoCo,
Congratulations! You totally get it! I guess I did a pretty awful job of articulating the point I was trying to make. I could care less what someone does with the money they earn from their labors, and Im not sure why you are even talking about ownership of money.
My point is that taxpayers pay union dues, so for you to understand, this takes place before a service by the laborer has been performed. The unions are basically financed through public funds, and when election time comes they throw all that money to politicians who are going to favor union contract bids over private bids. So it is a form of public financing.
The difference is with unions, taxpayers dont get a say in where their money goes in an election. To give an opposing example, if you dont want the Koch brothers donating to Repubs, then you have the choice to not buy their products and dont have to worry about it.
PJ
May 13th, 2011
10:23 am
The Republicans are caught between a rock and a hard place. “Who do we stand up for the big donors or the big voters?” Don’t you just love it!!!!! Keep backing yourselves up against that wall. You can not serve two masters.
Message from Matti
May 13th, 2011
10:24 am
What’s with the GOPPERS and their “purity” schtick? Does anyone believe THEY even believe that rhetoric? They should call it what it is: an “obedience pledge” to their party leaders (”Party First!”), and a “fealty pledge” to their corporate masters.
What I’d like to see for once is a “sanity pledge.” How about a “will think it through using logic & reason, and looking at the big picture” pledge. That’ll never happen, as such concepts are too complex for their flock.
Mighty Righty
May 13th, 2011
10:26 am
Gale
May 13th, 2011
8:10 am
Just because wealthy special interests who contribute to their campaigns don’t want them to raise taxes, doesn’t mean they should not do so. Most middle Americans understand that when you have a negative cash flow and too much debt, you have to do more than just cut out the non-essential spending. You may have to get a second job or work more hours to get back on top of things. Our Congress critters act like they never saw a budget.
Are most middle class americans willing to increase their own taxes? Do most middle americans go steal from their neighbors when they over spend their own income? That is what you are suggesting. It is indisputable that the wealthy do not have enough income to balance the budget. My question for those of you who wish to continue out of control spending, how about you putting YOUR money where your mouth is. How about just accept enough of a tax increase to cover Obama’s spending over his last two yeays. If you are not willing to increase your own taxes by say 25% to 50%, then shut up.
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
10:26 am
Paul- what’s a RINO?
The opposite of a Blue Dog Democrat.
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:28 am
LWM 10:21 – I got to hear a good chunk of the soundbites on the radio and afterward on the news. Did not watch it live.
It really was a complete dog and pony show. People’s Business? We’ll leave that to the Republicans in the House.
jm
May 13th, 2011
10:29 am
LWM – there’s a difference between expecting anarchy and being pro-anarchy. Glad to see the liberals here have gone pro-anarchy. Just like the peeps in WI.
Or you can suggest you were saying the comment in jest. Up to you.
Don't Forget
May 13th, 2011
10:29 am
jm,
first of all, WHO said the quote you cited? Secondly, don’t you feel even a little guilty for distorting that into “deficits are no big deal”? It IS a lie, no?
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
10:30 am
Dave
Makes life fun, doesn’t it???
Dave R.
May 13th, 2011
10:30 am
Yeah, gotta love those math whizzes at the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Their plan is worse than anything the Yerkes Primate Center could have produced.
Her’s all you need to know about their plan:
• Primary spending cuts of $869 billion
• Revenue increase of $3.9 trillion
• Public investment of $1.7 trillion
These people are worse than jokes; they’re dangerous.
Dave R.
May 13th, 2011
10:33 am
“What I’d like to see for once is a “sanity pledge.” How about a “will think it through using logic & reason, and looking at the big picture” pledge.”
Not going to get that from any side of the aisle.
Ever.
Dave R.
May 13th, 2011
10:34 am
SoCo: “Makes life fun, doesn’t it???”
Oh yeah . . .
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
10:36 am
getalife- Get your stinking gop corrupt hands off Medicare and SS
obamacare says “What?”
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
10:37 am
My point is that taxpayers pay union dues, so for you to understand, this takes place before a service by the laborer has been performed. The unions are basically financed through public funds, and when election time comes they throw all that money to politicians who are going to favor union contract bids over private bids. So it is a form of public financing.
Dude, you don’t get it. Union dues are not paid until labor is performed and paid for. Taxpayer money doesn’t have jack sh*t to do with union dues. If that were the case, union participation would be 100% where it was offered, since it would be free, right? Union dues does not go to political campaign as that is illegal activity. Nobody’s dumb enough to do illegal stuff to lose those cushy, fluffy, public sector jobs right? Remember, the one’s with the huge benefits…
You really should quit while you’re behind. There are many conservatives here that I respect and admire. You are making them look bad by spreading bs under the guise of conservative logic. I would love to see any proof of you assinine allegations if you could produce it.
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
10:38 am
*proof of your*
AmVet
May 13th, 2011
10:41 am
And lemme guess, the definition of a Blue Dog Democrat?
The opposite of a RINO…
Fallacies of ambiguity appear to support their conclusions only due to their imprecise use of language. Once terms are clarified, fallacies of ambiguity are exposed.
Mighty Righty
May 13th, 2011
10:41 am
Go Norquist. We need someone to keep an eye on these clowns we send to Washington D.C. to make sure they don’t forget who they represent. Especially old Saxby who has recently shown liberal tendencies. We got rid of ”Ironsides” for pretending he was reasonable when down here and was then a radical liberal when in D.C.
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
10:43 am
don’t forget- please back up your claim that democrats are saying that deficits are “no big deal”
http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/healthcare-overview
Don't Forget
May 13th, 2011
10:46 am
JKL2, lol. First of all, CBO says that saves money. Second, you haven’t quoted ANYONE saying what jm claims is being said. Third, the implication is that dems are a LOT more concerned about the deficit than r’s are.
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
10:51 am
left wing- Anarchy’s coming one way or another if the disease afflicting our country isn’t overcome. And the GOP is right up at the front among those who are busy digging our grave.
http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/communism/alinsky.htm
I agree we are probably headed toward civil unrest. I think you’re clueless as to who is leading the charge.
Message from Matti
May 13th, 2011
10:58 am
“We need someone to keep an eye on these clowns we send to Washington D.C. to make sure they don’t forget who they represent.”
Right. Their corporate masters and special-interest donors. My Congressman represents the Koch brothers. They’re not in our district, but who cares? He’s their special little buddy.
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
11:00 am
Matti- .” How about a “will think it through using logic & reason, and looking at the big picture” pledge.”
Is that like “But we have to pass the [health care ] bill so that you can find out what is in it.” – Nancy Pelosi?
Message from Matti
May 13th, 2011
11:01 am
JLK2,
**Yawwwwwwn!** Really? That’s your clever retort to a call for logic and reason? **flick**
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
11:15 am
AmVet- The opposite of a RINO…
That’s a question for Paul to answer. Liberals love to show how we’re all alike by giving everyone a name (African-American for example) that seperates them into an individual group. We were founded as the melting pot. Now that’s not possible because we have to celebrate “cultural diversity”
Part of my problem with illegal immigrants. I have no problem with people who want to come here and become Americans. Democrats want to open the flood gates to people who have no intention of ever becoming citizens. Then they criticize anyone who doesn’t respect their “right” to remain unassimilated.
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
11:23 am
Don’t Forget- CBO says that saves money.
ROFLMAO! Now that is funny. Those guys are never wrong. Mitt Romnay says “What?” Check any story in the editorial section yesterday if you don’t believe me.
-the implication is that dems are a LOT more concerned about the deficit than r’s are.
You should really be a comedian. Is that why the demwits have proposed soooo many spending cuts?
Yahtzee
May 13th, 2011
11:27 am
SoCo,
You can’t even look up factual information, but you can espouse opinions about myself being a “conservative” and my apparent lack of knowledge.
All public employees are paid with taxpayer money. So yes, it does have something to do with their union dues. Lets take teachers for example. In most states, well the ones that dont have paycheck protection laws, teachers are signed up to have their dues money diverted to their union’s political funds. And here’s a link so that you wont assume I’m making things up (this took place in the 2008 presidential election).
http://theunionlabelblog.com/2009/01/24/teachers-upset-unions-dues-misdirected-to-obama-campaign/
stands for decibels
May 13th, 2011
11:32 am
And the Dems had 60 votes for over a year.
for the record, no, they did not.
Al Franken was finally seated on July 7, 2009, giving the Dems 59 seats, plus Joe Lieberman, who was notoriously unreliable (do I really need to recall his idiocy on the ACA? and how he’d campaigned for McCain in 2008?).
On Feb. 4, 2010, Scott Brown was seated.
That’s not “over a year.” That’s not even quite 7 whole months.
heading upstairs…
JKL2
May 13th, 2011
11:33 am
Matti- Right. Their corporate masters and special-interest donors. My Congressman represents George Soros. He’s not in our district, but who cares? He’s their special little buddy.
Fixed your typo. MoveOn.org, nothing to see here…
Yahtzee
May 13th, 2011
11:34 am
SoCo,
Take a look at SB 830 in FL, The bill would end automatic paycheck deduction of union dues; The individual union member would decide whether or not to pay dues. More importantly, to Democrat electoral machinery, SB830 would not allow union dues to be used in political activity.
Brad Spencer
May 13th, 2011
11:42 am
Send them back in time and they’d sign a pledge of unwavering loyalty to the Sheriff of Nottingham.
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
11:55 am
Yahtzee
I can look up factual information…
NEA was hit with a $800k fine because they didn’t respond to a suit by the deadline
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A judge has fined the National Education Association $800,000 after the teachers’ union missed a deadline to respond to a campaign finance lawsuit filed by the conservative Evergreen Freedom Foundation.
It wasn’t clear whether the order Thurston County Superior Court Judge Daniel Berschauer issued Monday will stand. If lawsuits go unanswered, judges can presume the facts and allegations contained in them are true and rule accordingly, but such cases are rare.
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=070202&ID=s1176583
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,56835,00.html
I’m sure you’re aware of the difference between winning a case based on evidence produced versus winning on a technicality. Automatic deduction for union dues is no different than automatic deduction for insurance, taxes or anything else. I really don’t have to expouse much on your lack of knowledge because you’re putting it out for all to see. Having union dues automatically deducted is nothing more than a union-busting technique that’s being employed by GOP majorities across the country.
Get back to me when you have something serious.
Jay
May 13th, 2011
11:58 am
For example, I wonder who leaked details such as this?
The biggest secret in the special operations community—what gun did SEALs from “DevGru” kill Osama bin Laden with—has been revealed. Two military gear blogs, citing multiple insider sources, credit the highly reliable HK416 rifle, an M-16 type weapon, with the “double tap” of 5.56 mm bullets to bin Laden’s head.
Some undersecretary of state? To a military gear blog?
Somehow, I just don’t think so.
Southern Comfort
May 13th, 2011
12:03 pm
Jay
Wrong thread possibly?
Jay
May 13th, 2011
12:04 pm
oooh .. perhaps. :>)
Bruiser
May 13th, 2011
12:21 pm
What fun it is to watch Jay, Cynthia, and the other bed-wetting, feckless liberals go into overdrive to try to put down everything conservative! While Prezbo continues dismantle America ideals day by day, they say nothing. Pathetic, really.
willie lynch
May 13th, 2011
1:36 pm
From Bloomberg: Poll: Investors Say Tax Hike Needed to Cut U.S. Deficit.
Jay
May 13th, 2011
2:58 pm
jm, if I was George Mitchell I would never even have taken the job. There is no job in the first place; it’s hopeless, absolutely hopeless, and in the long run that hopelessness poses an existential danger to Israel.
But hey, it’s their country.
TnGelding
May 14th, 2011
1:12 am
Good for Coburn and Chambliss. Taxes will eventually be raised if the GOP let’s it come to a vote in the House. A small part? I’d say it has to be at least half.
Grover is accountable to his donors
May 14th, 2011
8:29 am
Chambliss and his GOP buds are chickens. They fear the tea party, the social conservatives, the weapons contractors, wall street, large corporate interests, and Grover.
It’s fun watching them twist in the wind.
yuzeyurbrane
May 15th, 2011
1:49 pm
Norquist and people who really believe in his ideas reveal the shallow and vapid nature of what passes for conservative political and economic thought. I have never been a fan of Chambliss so it says something when he is considered the reasonable centrist in this discussion. God help our Republic.
What's wrong with you people?
May 15th, 2011
2:11 pm
You know what astounds me? The way they talk about Social Security and Medicare as entitlement programs. We have paid and paid and paid into these programs and we ARE NOT asking for a handout to get our money back from them. What not ONE person on the hill will talk about is Medicaid, which IS an entitlement program. How about cutting welfare (the biggest ponzi scheme ever) and Medicaid? The people that receive these have NEVER put one dime into it, yet they are as large of an expenditure as SS and Medicare. STOP MEDICAID and save many billions!
midtownguy
May 15th, 2011
3:02 pm
When the Georgia congressional delegation agrees to slash agricultural subsidies I will believe they are serious about balancing the budget. Until then, its all just smoke and mirrors.
Straight Talk
May 15th, 2011
5:37 pm
midtownguy is right on target. This country is broke. We do not have the money for subsidies of any kind for any reason. Saxby Chambliss needs to stop supporting subsidies for his agriculture buddies [aka big corporate farms] and quits trying to impress us that he is ‘bringing home the bacon’ by pushing for deepening the Port of Savannah. Saxby needs to wake up and smell the coffee. The November 2010 election results were not a one-off event. The public understands the country is broke. The voters will no longer tolerate being asked to pay higher taxes when our money is now being squandered. When will our elected officials in Washington understand that? Unless they demonstrate that understanding with their word and actions, it is time for new ones representing Georgia.
Dave
May 15th, 2011
5:42 pm
The Georgia politicians promise not to “raise revenue?” I suppose they don’t consider fees, not taxes mind you, to be revenue. But, isn’t revenue i what comes in, be it fees, taxes, interest earned on either and a few other things. And didn’t they raise a bunch of “not taxes” in this latest session of the legislature? What is it that I missed? Oh, don’t pay any attention to what politicians say, only what they do.
ATL Guy
May 15th, 2011
6:03 pm
The Republicans have a ticking time bomb on their hands that will explode right in the midst of the 2012 campaign and they are trying to avoid talking about it at all costs: former Senator John Ensign. The Justice Department will decide soon whether to bring charges against Ensign for violating a whole host of federal and ethics laws. Once that is decided sitting Republican Senator (Tom Coburn), a Republican Presidential candidate (Rick Santorum) and a bunch of other national Republicans will be on the hot seat because they helped conceal this messy, nasty affair. If they aren’t worried yet, they need to be. John Ensign would be the gift that keeps on giving because he could take down the entire Republican field with him come 2012.
RGB
May 15th, 2011
6:07 pm
“According to a list on Norquist’s website…..and 50 other legislators have all signed an oath to never, under any conditions, agree to raise government revenue.”
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think the signatories agreed not to raise tax rates which is not the same as raising government revenue.
In fact, should the economy ever recover (which is doubtful under the current administration), the increased economic activity would indeed raise government revenue.
But if you’re a lib and your only goal is to pound “the rich” job creators, then it’s not about raising revenue–it’s strictly a punishment thing. Obama even admitted that raising tax rates often produces less revenue and he justified it in terms of “faiiiiiirrrrrrnessss”.
As Neal Boortz pointed out, yes Neal Boortz, if you taxed everyone making more than $100k/year at 100% (thereby confiscating everything they earn), that totals $1.58 trillion–which is less than Obama’s annual deficit.
And when you take everything somebody earns, funny thing, they don’t often continue working–which causes more government dependence which is, of course, the Democrats’ goal.
The Statist Leftist Democrats will forever be known as The Destroyers. What a legacy.
Dave
May 15th, 2011
6:19 pm
RGB,
Money is money isn’t it? What’s the difference between a pledge not to raise taxes and a pledge not raise revenue, given that the basis of the philosophy is that government should shrink? GHWB said no new taxes and then waffled, it didn’t work out so well for him. These days, a wink and a nod seem to get politicians by on both sides of the aisle.
Obama Supporter to the end
May 15th, 2011
6:25 pm
“Has signed a public pledge to never, under any circumstances, increase taxes.”
Yet the GOP wants to cut social security and medicare! For all of you idiots who voted for the Republicans…you got what you desired. A KNIFE IN THE BACK!!!!
St Simons - we're on Island time
May 15th, 2011
7:08 pm
“No one ever cut their way to prosperity”
-the one, the only, Saint Ronald of Raygun
Their positions have the consistency of my 1 yr old’s baby poop
Obama Supporter to the end
May 15th, 2011
7:32 pm
@Bruiser May 13th, 2011 12:21 pm
You sound like a Republican IDIOT. The Republicans are going to raise YOUR taxes, give big corporations a tax break, cut social security and medicare just to spite president Obama and that’s OK with you???
OK Mr. Money Bags. YOU GOT LIKE THAT, UH?
Dinkdunk
May 15th, 2011
7:41 pm
Never seen someone so excited about raising taxe.
Sid Farcas
May 15th, 2011
8:07 pm
Since this seems to be the only place to comment on Santana’s bogus comments at the Braves Game today and I don’t give a rat’s a** what Book Man says about Republicans I will now vent. Santana talks abot immigrants doing labor that us Americans won’t. Well maybe he is right but, so what? As long as they are LEGAL immigrants and have to pay taxes like the rest of us and their employers set them up on a health care program (where they have deductions like the rest of us) then they can clean the toilets and work in the chicken plants and mow the yards of America…LEGALLY! It is the Fedral law that says they should be arrested if they are illegal. Santana and the rest of liberal nation seem to forget the laws are already on the books, just not enforced. By the way, there were some boos at Turner when Santana was announced, no mention in the AJC of course.
Now back to Book Man’s liberal rants about conservatives.
Sid Farcas
May 15th, 2011
8:08 pm
Obama Supporter to the end
The end is less then 2 years away. Enjoy the time.
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
May 15th, 2011
8:47 pm
Promising the taxpayers you’ll never raise taxes is like promising your boss you’ll never ask for a raise.
Imagine what your life and the life of your family would be like if you never received an increase in salary — or revenue, to complete the analogy. It would, over time, destroy the financial viability of your family and erode your standard of living living in 2011 and trying to make ends meet with your 1991 salary.
It’s foolish to take the “No Tax Pledge” and certainly an idiotic expectation to expect them to take the pledge. It’s mindless blackmail.
You can cut expenses, but eventually
Clinton "Skink" Tyree
May 15th, 2011
8:49 pm
Pardon the previous post. I had a premature ejac. . .well, it posted prematurely.
The last sentence should read: You can cut expenses, but eventually you have to increase income if your standard of living is to be maintained at an acceptable level.
Atlantan
May 15th, 2011
8:53 pm
You folks crying for tax hikes clearly don’t pay much taxes and are not smart enough to realize just how much you pay in sales tax, gas tax, ad valorem and user fees.
Govt needs to cut and cut some more, Medicare, Social Security & Medicaid all need to be readjusted. Once this is done and govt can clearly demonstrate to me a need for more to pay down debt then we can talk. Until then the call for tax hikes is pure rubbish by a bunch of weak kneed flowers scared to tell people no.
Grow up and go read up on The American Revolution while you’re at it. Saxby has been a disappointment. Oddly I don’t think farm subsidies seem to bother him at all…..
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
May 15th, 2011
9:23 pm
So in other words, every time the Democrats complete some monumental act of stupidity, such as the Stimulus (which was nothing more than an effort to keep the Democrat’s perpetual fundraising machine in action), the Republicans are supposed to say, “That’s OK, we think it is important for the productive elements of society to pay for the Democrats’ latest hare-brained scheme.” The pledge they should take is to cut taxes in half every time the Democrats pull another stunt.
khc
May 15th, 2011
9:27 pm
sorry bush tax cuts not paid for; we need to go back to square one on this issue…the rates clinton had when we were generating surpluses………….and cut spending…..
can’t republicans multi task
Obama Supporter to the end
May 15th, 2011
9:32 pm
@Sid Farcas May 15th, 2011 8:08 pm
And your point is????? See you at the finish line.
Pull My Finger
May 15th, 2011
10:12 pm
By the way, Carlos Santana needs to just shut up and play the guitar……..I don’t give a crap about what he thinks about us not allowing people to mooch off of our state……become a citizen the right way or get the heck out!
MrLiberty
May 15th, 2011
10:16 pm
Only Ron Paul has ever honored such a pledge. Ask Chambliss if he will pledge never to bail out the criminals in the banking industry again. See how far that goes.
Corey
May 15th, 2011
11:02 pm
Yatzee, why don’t you walk into the first government office you see and tell those governement employees how they can spend their paychecks? Better yet, tell them that they do not have the same rights as other Americans who work for a living. Tell them since their income is derived from the public via taxes that they can only shop at government owned businesses and live in public housing. Yatzee, do you see the fallacy in your argument?