A blink on the fiscal cliff: Boehner proposes tax hike on millionaires
We have a blink from the Republican side. From the Associated Press:
WASHINGTON — Signaling new movement in “fiscal cliff” talks, House Speaker John Boehner has proposed raising the top rate for earners making more than $1 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said. President Barack Obama, who wants higher top rates for households earning more than $250,000, has not accepted the offer, this person said.
The proposal, however, indicated progress in talks that had appeared stalled. The person would only discuss the plan on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
As part of a broader budget deal, Boehner is still seeking more spending cuts than Obama has proposed, particularly in mandatory health care spending. Boehner has asked for a long-term increase in eligibility age for Medicare and for lower costs-of-living adjustments for Social Security.
Boehner’s tax proposal was first reported by Politico.
A Boehner aide would not comment on the report.
At issue are expiring tax rates that would automatically increase on Jan. 1 for virtually every income tax payer if Congress and the president don’t act. Steep budget cuts are also scheduled to kick in, unless Congress and Obama agree to forestall them with other deficit reduction measures.
Obama has insisted on extending current rates for the 98 percent of taxpayers in household that earn less than $250,000. He would let the top two marginal rates increase from 33 percent to 35 percent and from 36 percent to 39.6 percent for those taxpayers making over that threshold.
Until now, Boehner had maintained his opposition to raising any rates. Instead, he had proposed to raise up to $800 billion in tax revenue over 10 years by limiting tax loopholes and deductions as part of a broad tax overhaul.
But the speaker and House Republicans have come under increasing pressure form a number of Senate Republicans who say they should yield to Obama’s demand on tax rates and then press him for additional cuts early next year in exchange for an increase in the nation’s borrowing limit.
Obama has proposed about $600 billion in spending reductions over 10 years, including about $350 billion in Medicare and other health care savings. But he has also proposed about $200 billion in additional spending, including aid to the unemployed and to struggling homeowners and for public works projects.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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73 comments Add your comment
East Cobb RINO, Inc. (LLC)
December 16th, 2012
12:44 am
Somewhere between the 250K and the 1M tax rates something can get done along with some spending reforms. I am not a fan of Boehner, but will at least acknowledge the difficult position he is in. Cutting a deal could cost him his House leadership position but it is the right thing to do.
um
December 16th, 2012
1:45 am
Um, spending cuts of 600 billion over 10 years is not going to put a dent in our debt….. I’m shocked we are allowing these clowns to get a pass. Currently we are adding over 1 trillion per year to the our debt load and they want to convince us that cutting 60 billion per year off of that is what we need?
unn
December 16th, 2012
1:50 am
idiots the end of the Republican party is at hand!!
UPDATE 2-White House won’t accept new tax offer from Republican leader … – Reuters | krishnaiah.com
December 16th, 2012
2:21 am
[...] comments on legalized marijuana prompt call for US policyDaily CameraWall Street Journal -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -The Hill (blog)all 539 news [...]
UPDATE 2-White House won’t accept new tax offer from Republican leader … – Reuters | Eastern News
December 16th, 2012
3:04 am
[...] cuts now seen as inevitable in JanuaryWashington PostWall Street Journal -New York Times -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)all 540 news [...]
Miller
December 16th, 2012
3:47 am
Sorry but this article is misleading. “Sharp cuts” of 100 billion out of 1.5 trillion is chump change. Let’s roll right over the cliff and fix this now while we still can. And let this be a lesson about getting and keeping our fiscal house in order.
The Iron Lady is singing
December 16th, 2012
6:17 am
Now that they’ve fixed the “evil rich”, let’s see them fix the “evil government” that spends too much of other people’s money and has too much stolen power.
Move over Greece!
UGA ECONOMICS MAJOR
December 16th, 2012
6:29 am
the rich has to make sacrifices like everybody else…they are only getting richer while the rest of us get behind
Atlantan
December 16th, 2012
6:43 am
@UGA – can you please tell me what “sacrifices” everyone else is making? Why do you think only the high earner should give up more of their life to the govt? What sacrifice are you making?
Martha Zoller
December 16th, 2012
6:56 am
http://ntu.org/tax-basics/who-pays-income-taxes.html This table shows what each income level is paying by year. We need to throw out the progressive income tax rates that pick winners and losers and implement the FairTax. @UGA The problem is spending, not taxation.
Boehner is going to give in on the over 1 million, but the spending cuts have to be substantial. Take the stimulus, for example. It was supposed to be a one time program, but has the spending gone down 800+ billion every year since then? No, it hasn’t, so it’s been 800 billion a year in additional spending.
If they want to go back to the Clinton rates, then let’s go back the the Clinton rates of spending, too?
GB
December 16th, 2012
6:57 am
“Obama has proposed about $600 billion in spending reductions over 10 years, ”
These are “cuts” as the term is used in Washington, not in the rest of the English-speaking world. This kind of “cut” means that you say today that you will spend less tomorrow than you said yesterday that you would spend tomorrow. But you still spend more tomorrow than you spend today. As the commenter above said, this will not put a dent in the deficit. Indeed, these kinds of “cuts” actually INCREASE the national debt.
Moon Mullins
December 16th, 2012
7:07 am
Boehner can’t get his own troops on the same page. There’s an element of his own party that is intransigent and causing him enormous difficulty as he tries to negotiate. The solution is for him to kick this can down the road into the New Year when the new congress is seated and he’s re-elected to a new term as Weeper of the House. And, that’s what I anticipate he’ll do.
Don Abernethy
December 16th, 2012
7:29 am
As a long time Republican I would like to see Boehner replaced with a Tea Party Republican.
Jack ®
December 16th, 2012
7:32 am
Teach your children not to have too much ambition. If they make too much money, it’ll be unfair to the others that have less ambition. Just let them slouch along with the sure knowledge that someone else will tend to their needs. Children are already learning at an early age that those stingy old rich people are the cause of all our problems and that it’s easier to steal, plunder, cheat and chant about being treated unfairly.
Correction
December 16th, 2012
7:37 am
The headline is incorrect….the tax increase proposal is based on earnings, not net worth. Millionaire is a measure of net worth.
Cherokee
December 16th, 2012
7:40 am
As a long time Democrat, I wouls also like to see Boehner replaced with a Tea Party Republican – that would ensure a Democratic sweep of the House in 2014.
Tom Price for Speaker! Or how about Steve King? Yeah, that’s the ticket…
Brosephus™
December 16th, 2012
7:51 am
This table shows what each income level is paying by year. We need to throw out the progressive income tax rates that pick winners and losers and implement the FairTax.
That table does nothing but mislead people in an effort to sell the FairTax idea to people who don’t know any better. Our progressive federal income tax rates are used to balance out the TOTAL tax burden amongst citizens so that everyone pays a somewhat equal percentage of their total income towards taxes on all levels.
But most people don’t know very much about the tax code. And the federal income tax is still our most famous tax. So when they hear that half of Americans aren’t paying federal income taxes, they’re outraged — even if they’re among the folks who have a net negative tax burden! After all, they know they’re paying taxes, and there’s no reason for normal human beings to assume that the taxes getting taken out of their paycheck every week and some of the taxes they pay at the end of the year aren’t classified as “federal income taxes.”
Confining the discussion to the federal income tax plays another role, too: It makes the tax code look much more progressive than it actually is.
Take someone who makes $4 million dollars a year and someone who makes $40,000 a year. The person making $4 million dollars, assuming he’s not doing some Romney-esque planning, is paying a 35 percent tax on most of that money. The person making $40,000 is probably paying no income tax at all. So that makes the system look really unfair to the rich guy.
[...]
But here is really the only tax graph you need: It’s total tax burden by income group. And as you’ll see, every income group is paying something, and the rich aren’t paying much more, as a percentage of their incomes, then the middle class.
That’s really what the American tax system looks like: Not 47 percent paying nothing, but everybody paying something, and most Americans paying between 25 percent and 30 percent of their income…
When politicians try to convince you that half of Americans aren’t really paying taxes, it’s usually because the real data undermines their preferred policies. For instance, you wouldn’t look at these numbers and think tax cuts for the rich need to be a huge priority. And that’s one reason people who want more tax cuts for the rich don’t like to show you these numbers.
And here’s a link to the chart that shows the total tax bill as a percentage of income:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/files/2012/09/total-tax-bill-income.jpg
Wilbur
December 16th, 2012
7:55 am
The republicans offer a compromise and the loyal lapdog liberal press IN UNISON characterizes it as a “cave”. Do they send you your columns Jim, or just your talking points.
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
7:58 am
UGA Econ Major: “the rich has to make sacrifices like everybody else…they are only getting richer while the rest of us get behind”
So this is your take-away from your time at UGA? Remind me to not send my kids there.
UGA Blonde Cheerleader
December 16th, 2012
8:11 am
@ The Maestro, if your kids are like you then they will be too dumb to be admitted into UGA.
Go Dawgs!
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
8:21 am
Cherokee: As a long time Democrat…………[fill in the blank with nonsensical opinions about the rich, abortion and gays being able to marry].
You must have a long history of surrounding yourself with problem-solvers, huh? Let’s see……’Uh, we need to get more money from those rich folk. Uh, we need to be able to abort. Uh, we need those union bosses to protect us and make decisions for us. Uh, and those gay folk should be able to marry if they wanna.Uh,and that 20trillion debt by 2016 that the other party is concerned about aint nuttin. Obama can just print more of dat and give us somma it.’
Fred ™
December 16th, 2012
8:32 am
The Iron Lady is singing
December 16th, 2012
6:17 am
Now that they’ve fixed the “evil rich”, let’s see them fix the “evil government” that spends too much of other people’s money and has too much stolen power.
Move over Greece!
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God I’m tired of you talk radio?foxbot sheeple and the stupidity of what you post. Greece? Really? You REALLY think there is a parallel between the US an a Country that has been third rate for 2000 years? Only FOXBOTS would believe that stupid lie, but then ya’ll aren’t too bright anyway.
Just damn. Go back and READ a little instead of listening to Rush, Sean, Glenn and Neal………
Ivory
December 16th, 2012
8:33 am
Legalize Marijuana, tax it like cigarettes and alcohol, and sit back and watch the tax revenues come rolling in!
Uncle Billy
December 16th, 2012
8:35 am
We should focus not on the debt but on unemployment. This “great recession” like the Great Depression was caused by a financial collapse owing to the bubble in the housing markets. These types are more prolonged because there is too much focus on deficits and debt and not enough on restoring employment.
The stimulus package of 2009-2010 was less than half as large as it should have been. It was also poorly designed. And nothing followed on after it proved inadequate. Now many are pushing austerity programs which is the policy followed by Herbert Hoover in the early thirties and which are being following in Britain and the Euro Zone with disastrous consequences.
If employment could be reduced to 5 or 6% revenues would increase and the automatic payments of a recession (unemployment insurance, food stamps, Medicaid and probably disability) would be reduced. There is really no mystery to all of this. But there is a lot of loose talk and a lot of invective and vituperation from those unable to construct a coherent argument.
The quickest thing to recover in this recession has been corporate profits. This was done by serious cuts to expenditures which help the company but not the people who work for them. So much for charges for charges of “socialism” and “anti-business attitude.”
JK Rusky
December 16th, 2012
8:35 am
I don’t care about raising the tax rate for people making $1mill or over a year because they are essentially entertainment (liberal Hollywood, hedge-fund managers, radicals leftist, athletes) many Demokrats and many voted for Heir Bama. What ignorant people don’t understand is this, people with that income have advisers that will help them move money around to pay the least amount of taxes. This is why this president is ignorant of how business works and like someone said, it will not raise enough to put a dent in the deficit.
Republicans need to watch out for the small business community, (me) those that can’t afford lobbyist to game the system just like the claim of people abusing welfare. Corporate welfare is just as bad!
JK Rusky
December 16th, 2012
8:36 am
Rich people will stay Rich, a historical fact if they have a strategy and common-sense, the path to wisdom.
AJ Greenspan
December 16th, 2012
8:41 am
Fred, we are not Greece, it will be worse. Remember Germany in post WWI. When the banks and China call our debt, its over!! China can’t dump any of the US debt because nobody will buy it. Under Obama, we have printed billions of $$$$ a month, its has to come out sometime, it will be bad inflation that will make Jimmy Carter look like a genius! U need to read an economic book. All of Obama’s programs have failed. The unemployment rate is around 14% and you have the nerve to blame talk-radio. A fools fools and probably Democratic.
guest
December 16th, 2012
8:42 am
its not a surprise that Boehner wants to raise taxes he is a RINO like most of the “Republicans” we have today
sportsfan
December 16th, 2012
8:55 am
Since all you people who post here, maybe you should run for office….I’m sure you can equal the idiots running our govt. now. Best thing I read here was the term “Corp. Welfare”. When we speak of problems in our govt., why is it this rarely comes up?
Road Scholar
December 16th, 2012
8:56 am
Cut Congresses healthcare, healthclub, and pension. Remove all deductions except charitable and one home interest for home mortgages capped at $1 Million. Cut the military by $1 Billion. Then if you want to raise SS age and reduce medicaid/medicare, then justify those cuts. That after getting rid of “stupid” expenditures.
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
8:58 am
Fred: Just damn. Go back and READ a little instead of listening to Rush, Sean, Glenn and Neal………
Fred, I’m a diehard republican and can’t stand listening to pompous Rush and the idiot Glenn. I will tune into Hannity occasionally and only when he has a panel discussion with opposing views represented. I can’t learn anything from listening exclusively to people with views I generally agree with. I suggest you do the same and not watch your idols–Mathews, Maddow, and Bloated Ed–because, as you might have noticed by now, those shows rarely ever have opposing views represented. And did you notice how the ‘mainstream’ press didn’t cover the union bubba in Michigan beating up the correspondent last week. If that would have been a Tea Partier pummeling a CNN guy it would still be the headline story a week later on your networks. It’s sad the bias that exists and you should be concerned, too.
Smarter than you
December 16th, 2012
9:16 am
Barack Obama and Democrats are winning the war of politics… But we dont need better politics… we need better policy now.
A combined $1.1 Trillion in budget reduction (most of which is in the form of tax increases) is not even close to what is required. We need close to $5 Trillion in budget reduction over the next decade. 85% of that $5 Trillion should come from spending cuts and adjustments to entitlements. Americans should be outraged if we don’t get real, tangible spending cuts and entitlement reform. Failure to achieve these reforms will ensure our bankruptcy within the next 15 years. I would like to pass on a better world to my daughter.
red herring
December 16th, 2012
9:20 am
obama has never negotiated anything with the republicans—it’s always his way of the highway. let’s have some downsizing of federal government and cutbacks in spending. that makes more sense than tax increases. no problem with tax increases on folks making over 500k –wouldn’t hurt to have tax increases on the 47% not paying income tax. mainly though we have to cut wasteful spending–then cut spending in general across the board in the federal government– 143,000 new federal employees since obama took office and that will rise when obamacare’s 16,000 new IRS agents get hired. who’s gonna pay for all that—-the taxpayer can’t fund what obama wants to spend. he has offered no cuts.
John Lennon
December 16th, 2012
9:32 am
Even I can imagine a math equation where too much spending ruins the lives of future generations.
Imagine there’s no thinking
It’s easy if you try
No common sense around us
Around us only lies
Imagine all the people
Spending to the sky
Whoo hoo
You may say I’m a buzzkill
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will not be so dumb
roughrider
December 16th, 2012
9:40 am
The final deal on the fiscal cliff will be the following : Working class taxpayers will pay more in fees and taxes.Also SS raises will be cut out and Medicare premiums will rise.The “I want something for nothing crowd” will remain fat and happy with no cuts in welfare, food stamps, heating assistance etc.The politicians will remain rich, smiling and happy as they keep receiving kickbacks from lobbyists.
Don
December 16th, 2012
9:43 am
Herring, the biggest reason this country is in a mess is because of ignorance. You’re not helping the cause.
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
9:58 am
Don: Herring, the biggest reason this country is in a mess is because of ignorance. You’re not helping the cause.
I suppose Don had supporting facts to justify his assessment of Herring’s post, but didn’t have time to express it.
InDemand
December 16th, 2012
10:07 am
I understand the GOP’s pledge to not raise taxes.n If you do the math on increasing the top 2% tax rate by 5-points, anyone making $250K would pay $12,500 more in taxes and anyone making $500K would pay $25,000 more in taxes. One of the arguments that the GOP claims is that by raising the taxes 5-points on the top 2%, it will result in job losses. Would a small company really prefer to negatively impact service and output by cutting a job to save $12,500 or $25,000? That would be low-paying jobs. So, if someone is earning $500K and wants to lay off a person making $25,000 or less to save on paying $25,000 more in taxes, that person’s company is probably not doing well, anyway.
The minimum wage in the U.S. is supposed to be $7.25/hr. In the Southeast, the minimum wage is below national minimum because companies earning less than $500K are exempt from the national minimum wage. IIf those companies earning less than $500K decide to lay off workers, their businesses will very likely close. So, is it better to have no company and no income than to pay the additional 5-points in taxes?
To those people earning more than $500K, “How much do you really need to subsist?”
Brosephus™
December 16th, 2012
10:33 am
I suppose Don had supporting facts to justify his assessment of Herring’s post, but didn’t have time to express it.
Herring really didn’t have supporting facts of his own other than the usual rhetorical numbers thrown out as red meat for conservatives. But, then again, most of these posts here are opinions, and opinions do not have to be fact-based to be a valid opinion.
Veteran Observer
December 16th, 2012
10:44 am
Let’s all stop the class bigotry and warfare that has been the last 4 years orchestrated by the “Campaigner-in-Chief! The bottom line is that most of us are Americans and we should be uniting instead of dividing to deal with this issue! If the president would just live up to his oath of office and send the illegals back to Mexico and Nigeria by enforcing the law, substantial savings in entitlements, social services, education, and healthcare could be achieved! Our sacrifice would be to all agree to pay 10% of our income in taxes! Every dollar anyone earns 10 cents is paid on it! No deductions for anything! Just think of the tremendous savings as the IRS shrinks to nothing! It is a proven fact that the very rich can hire advisors and attorneys to minimize the impact on them. The real problem comes in increasing taxes on the $250m to $1 million earners. These are the risk takers and business owners who employ most of the workers and pay most of the taxes now! For example, I know a business owner who did not take a salary the first four years of his business. Ten years later, he has 4 companies, he earns $300m a year and employs 77 people earning almost $2 million in wages! He pays substantial individual taxes and his companies pay very large amounts of federal, state, and local taxes! If his taxes are increased, he has no reward for his risk and he will shut down at least two of his companies! This is what the Republicans are fighting for as they recognize that 90%of our economy is dependent on business owners who employ less than 50 employees! The large corporations and the government do not fuel our economy! Let’s all sac rice and be equal as Americans and pay 10% and put our leaders and the government on a budget!
Sickened
December 16th, 2012
10:50 am
We need spending reform much more than tax increases. Obama doesn’t want to negotiate, only wants things his way: more spending and more taxes. He and the democrats are spending this country to our demise.
When the government is the only employer that is growing it is easy to see where the problem is.
Class warfare will get us nowhere and will only divide the country further. I simply don’t understand those who are so jealous of people who are more successful they cannot see the big picture. It is interesting though that the same people who are envious of those earning large salaries from businesses have no problem with athletes and entertainers who make even more.
Fred ™
December 16th, 2012
10:52 am
AJ Greenspan
December 16th, 2012
8:41 am
Fred, we are not Greece, it will be worse. Remember Germany in post WWI. When the banks and China call our debt, its over!! China can’t dump any of the US debt because nobody will buy it. Under Obama, we have printed billions of $$$$ a month, its has to come out sometime, it will be bad inflation that will make Jimmy Carter look like a genius! U need to read an economic book. All of Obama’s programs have failed. The unemployment rate is around 14% and you have the nerve to blame talk-radio. A fools fools and probably Democratic.
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Yeah right. 14% unemployment. ANOTHER foxbot lie.
Damn you people are stupid. Post WWI Germany? REALLY? So just who in the hell is goibng to come in, take all our natural resources, gold supplies, cart of all our industrial complexes, steal all our money and impose sanctions on us like the idiot French and British did to Germany?
Jesus, you people just keep doubling down on the stupid.
Hey Albert Rothstein, what happens if we close our borders and markets to China for ONE MONTH? Huh? Tell me there genius. Need a hint? Just damn, just when you thought it couldn’t get MORE stoopid along comes another non thinking delusional foxbot repeating more talk show lies and ignorance.
I actually feel sorry for you mindless folks. Do you hide your own Easter eggs?
Oh and anyone who THINKS is a Democrat? I don’t think so pal. It’s us independents that rule this country, you fanatical right wing and left wing nutcases influence nothing. We independents pick the winners and losers, just like loser Romney.
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
10:53 am
Brosephus™, someone offered an opinion based on their understanding about how the world works and a democrat–working from his MSNBC talking points–calls him ignorant. That was my point. A party with the primary planks of is platform being gay marriage, taxing folks other than themselves, abortion, and expanding entitlement programs, well, I don’t think should portray those who disagree as ignorant. Perhaps it’s just me and my odd view of the world, but hanging our hat on taxing the top 2% of wage earners and calling it quits….just isn’t the answer. But you can refer to the next Maddow, Mathews, and Bloated Ed shows to re-confirm your complex understanding of our problems and the solutions. And, yes, it will start and stop with “The Republicans must give on this issue of taxing the rich.” There you have it. Problem-solving in action!
H.L. Grump
December 16th, 2012
10:55 am
Why would anyone with brain 1 listen to what Sean Hannity has to say?
Fred ™
December 16th, 2012
10:57 am
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
8:58 am
Fred: Just damn. Go back and READ a little instead of listening to Rush, Sean, Glenn and Neal………
Fred, I’m a diehard republican and can’t stand listening to pompous Rush and the idiot Glenn. I will tune into Hannity occasionally and only when he has a panel discussion with opposing views represented. I can’t learn anything from listening exclusively to people with views I generally agree with. I suggest you do the same and not watch your idols–Mathews, Maddow, and Bloated Ed…………
++++++++++++++++++
I have no idea who those folks are pal. Unlike YOU I am an independent which means i THINK. You can only see things in terms of a mindless foxbot. Either one is a hard right wing fanatical nutcase or one is a “dayum librul communist democrat.”
Thank God it’s us thinking folks who make the decisions on run this place. You nutcases wouldn’t know honesty, integrity or TRUTH if it jumped up and bit you smack on your butt.
I know, you never listen to any of the foxbots OR talk radio, it’s just coincidence
that you type their slogans………
Yawn. More mindlessness for the far right. This is why we thinking folks REJECTED your nonsense.
Kenman
December 16th, 2012
10:58 am
Obama does NOT want a deal, he wants us to go over the cliff as long as the mainstream lemmings will insure that Republicans will take ALL the blame.
Then, after the disaster predicted for months, our Dear Leader will propose to continue the tax cuts for the more than 50% that his corrupt party needs to get endlessly re-elected – and he’ll continue to take us down with debt! Everything with this man is a political charade!
And no, it won’t be like Greece, it will be far worse, as the world has always depended on the US to lead!
Fred ™
December 16th, 2012
11:00 am
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
9:58 am
Don: Herring, the biggest reason this country is in a mess is because of ignorance. You’re not helping the cause.
I suppose Don had supporting facts to justify his assessment of Herring’s post, but didn’t have time to express it.
++++++++++++++++
The only “fact” needed was to read the FOXBOT lies that Herring posted. He started his post with a lie. Why read further? Oh wait, you FOXBOTS live on lies. How sad.
Fred ™
December 16th, 2012
11:04 am
“The Republicans must give on this issue of taxing the rich.” There you have it. Problem-solving in action!
The only people that believe THAT particular lie are FOXBOTS and talk radio Sheeple. REAL, thinking MAericans know that we need to raise taxes and DRAMATICALLY cut spending. But you go on repeating the FOXBOT lies……….. just like only the far right wing fanatical nutcases think president Obama is a messiah. Again us REAl, thinking folks know he is just a man. Maybe not the BEST person for the job, but one hell of a lot better than that jackass Romney that the Republicans chose to run against him. Think Obama is bad? What does that make the loser Romney who was soundly rejected along with his crack pot ideas……….
Alabama Jack
December 16th, 2012
11:10 am
Stop the nonsense and get a deal done before you tank the entire economy. Cut back spending, eliminate tax loopholes and have the wealthy pay a higher share. For those of us living paycheck to paycheck now, we can’t take anymore. I am fortunate to have a full-time job with salary frozen the last seven years, followed by “days off without pay” every quarter. Enough is enough. My Christmas present for my wife is to stop taking two of my prescriptions so we can have some extra food for the holidays. This is reality in America today.
MrLiberty
December 16th, 2012
11:13 am
Republicans fundamentally have no principles. Those of us smart enough to leave the republican party decades ago fully realized that. Consistent small government, free market, sound money, sound foreign policy principles are to be found in the Libertarian Party. Those who still care about those things should abandone the republicans as well. They are clearly beyond saving and a consistent, principled resistence to the democrat’s tyrrany is absolutely required.
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
11:25 am
“I don’t think so pal. It’s us independents that rule this country, you fanatical right wing and left wing nutcases influence nothing. We independents pick the winners and losers, just like loser Romney.”
Yeah, the independents are so smart. Swapping from one platform to the next depending on who seems to give the best speeches and which way the wind is blowing at the time. After Michele O spoke at the convention,CNN hacks and others–given her usually solid performance [yes, she's attractive, smart/bright, and very well-spoken] started touting her as a potential candidate in 2016. That’s where we’ve taken politics now. A good public speaker and democrat….and now you have a formidable political candidate. What a joke. And the minions listen to this and buy into it…..including the self-described highly intellectual independents.
Brosephus™
December 16th, 2012
11:26 am
But you can refer to the next Maddow, Mathews, and Bloated Ed shows to re-confirm your complex understanding of our problems and the solutions.
May I ask, who are those people, and why should they be important to me? Seems that you know more about their shows than I do as I don’t watch that talking head crap. I don’t care if it’s right wing crap or left wing crap, crap is crap.
Perhaps it’s just me and my odd view of the world, but hanging our hat on taxing the top 2% of wage earners and calling it quits….just isn’t the answer.
Someone offered an opinion, just as you just offered yours. I’d suggest that you lay off your steady diet of rhetoric and go read something factual. We’ve had two rounds of budget cuts happen without any addressing of revenues. At some point, kids like you need to actually learn a thing or two.
We got into this mess over the course of 40 years by cutting revenues and increasing spending. There’s no way to cut our way out of this as our economy depends on consumption spending. GDP doesn’t differentiate between private sector or public sector spending. Cut public sector spending without a corresponding increase in private sector spending, and you put us right back into recession. Based on what conservatives are whining about, it seems as though they care more about making Obama look bad to the detriment of the country as a whole.
The Boy Scouts teaches people how to find their way when lost. One of the methods is to backtrack your path. It’s gonna take 40 years to get out of the 40 year mess we’re in, and it will take a backtracking path to do it. That means we’ll need to cut spending AND increase revenues. If I were in Congress, we would have increased revenues 2 years ago as I would not have voted to extend Bush’s tax sale beyond it’s original expiration date.
palepadre
December 16th, 2012
11:28 am
Any “Safety Net” encourages Dependence. The problem with a Government “Safety Net” is that it is used to gain votes.It’s time to have benefits that taper off over time. Then make charities and families responsible for the needy. Where did the pride of helping family go?
Of course for families to be able to aid their members, is to buy less. Homes had at one time,one Color TV and one telephone. Children will not love you more,because you gave them ten presents instead of five!
rlm
December 16th, 2012
11:34 am
My social security payment just went up by 20.00 this does not cover the rise in gas prices for a year. I still work. We do have to cut spending. raising taxes on people over 250k by 1 % or even 2% will not hurt them substantially but poorer people it hurts alot. We still need to cut entitlements to save money not add to it. Since I work I do not pay for Medicare because I have insurance. I am saving the government money but working and paying for my own. Unfortunately many workers can not get a full time job, they can only get parttime as employers find two parttime employees with no benefits cheaper then one full time. We need to address this then the government will not have to supply insurance for people. Lastly we need the PWA to supply jobs not unemployment. Most out of work workers want a job not a hand out.
yep
December 16th, 2012
11:45 am
Every tax increase should be mirrored by a decrease in spending. I vote for the removal of the EITC redistribution policy that no one is talking about. Wanna see Obama squirm? Make his core constituents do without their redistribution money received every year at tax time. We are the land of the free, not land of the free money….
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
11:53 am
“We’ve had two rounds of budget cuts happen without any addressing of revenues. At some point, kids like you need to actually learn a thing or two.”
Yeah, you believe this? If you look at the govenment’s expenses right now do you really think we’re spending less than before? Because when I use the term ‘budget cut’ I would expect that that would mean that less is being spent. Do you have the same understanding? If so, you need to rethink your supreme understanding of CNBC financial management.
honested
December 16th, 2012
11:58 am
Great, boehner is still attached to reality.
Now, let him wait until January 2, and he will have to accept reality.
Then he can accept the taxation of ALL TYPES OF INCOME at a top marginal rate of 39% for those earning over 250,000.00.
And if he behaves properly, he can add back the NECESSARY expenditures to the military industrial complex budget while waving goodbye to the wasteful excesses that have put us in this hole forever!
honested
December 16th, 2012
12:02 pm
It might even be possible that boehner and the House children will come to comprehend that Social Security and Medicare have NO PLACE in a discussion of the general budget.
If they want to solve the problems that will eventually befall one or both of those programs, eliminate the FICA cap (or at least raise it to 250,000.00), eliminate the prohibition for Medicare to shop the best price for Part D drug coverage, and quintuple the co-pays for all Medicare receipients with retirement income over 250,000.00.
But that solves the problem and does not pander to the misplaced ideology.
Brosephus™
December 16th, 2012
12:09 pm
Because when I use the term ‘budget cut’ I would expect that that would mean that less is being spent.
Are you a congressman or president? If not, your definition or meaning of the term “budget cut” is about as useful as a truckload of football bats for the Falcons. It doesn’t matter how you or I define what is or what is not a budget cut. That’s the job of Congress, correct?
How do you explain this??
How He Did It: Three Keys to Boehner’s Budget Victory
One week ago, John Boehner was dead meat. Facing a rebellion among his freshman members and with a government shutdown looming, Washington was preparing a professional obituary for the speaker of the House….
Yet today, Boehner’s clout in his caucus and as a negotiator have been enhanced.
He is the primary author of a compromise to keep the government operating for the rest of the year with the largest spending reduction in history – 63 percent of the original GOP request of $61 billion. Republicans also got a potpourri of sweeteners, like up-or-down votes on politically painful subjects like President Obama’s health care law and federal subsidies for Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. Not too shabby for a guy who held only one of three seats at the negotiating table.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/09/did-keys-boehners-budget-victory/#ixzz2FEfmvBnI
liberalefty
December 16th, 2012
12:48 pm
why arent all these ‘producers” as they call themselves producing jobs for Americans?
liberalefty
December 16th, 2012
12:50 pm
the Community Organizer plays the repubs like Mozart and they hate him for his intellect and confidence in the face of their racist stupidity…
hazel
December 16th, 2012
12:54 pm
Great article from Fox:
Patience Pays
One of the reasons Obama did not get a bigger bounce out of his December deal to maintain the current tax rates for another two years is that he caved in too soon.
Eager to end the discussion about a looming tax increase for all Americans at the end of the year, Obama unhappily cut a deal with Republicans, who he compared to “hostage takers,” and then lashed out at liberals who were critical of the deal as “sanctimonious.” It was an ugly way to handle what should have been a happy occasion.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/09/did-keys-boehners-budget-victory/#ixzz2FEqynI88
liberalefty
December 16th, 2012
1:09 pm
the repubs only want to make Obama look weak and foolish like Dubya. That and legislating womens vagina seems to be all theyre about
capguitarman
December 16th, 2012
1:32 pm
If for no other reason, Ilike this because Boehner is talking about real “millionaires” and not using that word very loosely when discussing the “rich” — “rich” being couples making $250,000 + in Dem/Lib land, and sometimes referred to as millionaires by the Prez.
Since this kind of loose talk hits the Blue states the hardest, my sympathy is very limited, because those living in those states have never seen a tax they didn’t like, and never a problem of any kind that could not be solved by a new tax — e.g. the latest being a $100 tax on each and every bullet sold, in answer to the horrible tragedy in Newtown.
But a couple making $250,000 in New Jersey, or in New York, or in Los Angeles or San Francisco, or Washington DC is not “rich” — not by a long shot. And while Blue state residents fare somewhat better, when these red and blue “millionaires” (many of whom are small business owners who hire people) figure up their federal taxes, state taxes, real estate taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes, payroll taxes, etc. etc. it is a long time before any of their earnings goes into their pockets.
And keep in mind, all of this disingenuous Dem/Lib crap about the “rich” not paying “their fair share” is completely bogus. By far and away they pay the greatest share of the total tax bill today, higher than at any other time in our history.
And wonder why Obama is always harping on taxes going up on the top earners, but never seems to mention the increase on capital gains and dividend taxes coming in 2013 to help pay for Obamacare. Plus the new medical device taxes that will fall on everyone? And even worse, peddling the idea that we can tax our way out of trillion dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. America has a spending problem, and until we start to seriously deal with that (and the Dem/Libs are not dealing with it and obviously have no intention of dealing with it seriously) America will have a permanent economic limp.
Wilbur
December 16th, 2012
1:45 pm
The speaker offers a compromise and the President just says “no”.
This is not negotiation. Seems Obama thinks he is a dictator.
Cherokee
December 16th, 2012
2:05 pm
capguitarman, I always have to laugh when I read paragraphs like yours, especially about how the poor rich folks are paying sooo very much.
Your presidential candidate only paid 13% of his income in taxes – I pay a bigger percentage than that – likely you do too.
But folks like you keep carrying water for the Romnsys and Hiltons of the world; meanwhile they laugh at you from the safety of their gated communities and mansions.
Scrivener
December 16th, 2012
3:31 pm
Cherokee with his class warfare drivel again. He says: “Your presidential candidate only paid 13% of his income in taxes – I pay a bigger percentage than that – likely you do too.”
I think someone needs to learn the difference between investment income and ordinary income. People like Cherokee have been listening to the propaganda from folks like Obama and Warren Buffett a little too much.
Wilbur
December 16th, 2012
5:39 pm
All last year, the democrat loyalists like Jim were attacking the republicans for not being willing to take a “balanced approach” to fixing our deficit problem. Now we see the truth. It’s the democrats who want endless spending and endless government. When given the opportunity to have a balanced approach the dems refused.
Did Jim and his fellow travelers like Bookman know they were selling a lie? Of course they did. Did it matter to them? Of course not!
Cobbian
December 16th, 2012
6:51 pm
If tax cuts create jobs, where are they? We have been doing this since the country bought into the “trickle down” economics of Reagan. We should have all the jobs imaginable by now and we should have a robust middle class. We don’t. What we have is a larger percent of income going to the top guys, a middle class that has declined, and a lower class that is decimated. Why should we keep doing something that doesn’t work?
Attack Dog
December 16th, 2012
7:05 pm
The Liberals offered the millionaire deal a year ago when Boehner was scared of the Tea Party. Say what you want, but Pelosi is what a speaker looks like.
Attack Dog
December 16th, 2012
7:09 pm
The reason that the Confederacy lost the war is because the plutocrats refused to pay for the war, while brainwashing Dixiecrats ( Dixiecans). Some things haven’t changed.
The Maestro
December 16th, 2012
7:25 pm
“………but Pelosi is what a speaker looks like.”
The same Pelosi that made the most idiotic statement in the history of politics: “We have to pass the bill before we can know what is in it.” Were you not amazed when you heard this come out of her mouth?
JMH
December 16th, 2012
8:31 pm
Cobbian- What was the unemployment rate for the majority of the Bush years? I guess 5% unemployment was bad?
Also, explain to me how raising taxes on anyone is going to create more jobs? So the govt brings in more tax revenue; how does that incent me as a small business owner to hire more workers? You just don’t know what your talking about.