Remember back in the mid-aughts, when Democrats were convinced that all Republicans were brilliant political strategists? Yeah, not so much:
House Republicans on Tuesday soundly rejected a bill approved by the Senate that would have extended the payroll tax cut for most Americans beyond the end of the year and allowed millions of unemployed people to continue receiving jobless benefits.
The House vote, which passed 229 to 193, also calls for establishing a negotiating committee so the two chambers can resolve their differences. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in opposition.
But the Senate has left town for the year, and Democrats say they do not intend to call it back, putting continuation of the tax cut in jeopardy and leaving a shadow over many unemployed Americans as the holidays near.
This is a Republican tax hike, plain and simple. I wonder what John Boehner is doing right now?
So, not extending tax cuts is the same as raising taxes? Usually that is an argument Republicans level at Democrats so I suppose turn about is fair play.
@The Golden: so it’s okay that wealthy people don’t pay taxes, but we need to make sure that poor people do?
Following to a logical conclusion, all you Oregon Democrats would support them raising taxes.
D: that’s more of a hyperbolic conclusion than a logical one. Next time, troll smarter.
The tax cut was a pretty regressive way of spending money since it applied equal to higher income and lower income people, in addition it was dangerous since it could be used to point to the “instability” of social security.
In addition, research showed that the growth prompted by the tax cut, like most regressive tax cuts wasn’t very substantial.
Remember, that this wasn’t a free tax cut, and would have likely come out either higher mortgage payments or cuts to basic services to pay for it.
Basically, in summary, not really a big deal and maybe the Republicans did us a favor since it is very possible that poorer people might have been worse off in the long run if the tax cut had to be paid by cutting government spending.
Compare Ardenne’s thoughtful, intelligent analysis to ScrumYummy’s ignorant statement that “rich people don’t pay taxes.”