As Obama ups his bid, GOP searches for a finesse
One idea circulating among at least a few Republicans would be for the House to pass one bill extending the Bush tax cuts for all but the highest bracket, and then another bill extending the Bush cuts for the highest bracket alone. Both would pass with Republican support, and both would go on to the Senate. There, majority Democrats would pass the bill for lower-bracket cuts with Republican support and would kill the bill for top-bracket cuts over Republican opposition. Voila — the tax rate for high earners would go up without GOP votes.
Some Republican lawmakers dismiss the proposal as “too cute.” And others are looking at other solutions. Since GOP opposition to a tax increase on the highest bracket is based in large part on the fact that many small businesses file as individuals and would be hit by a rate hike, some lawmakers are searching for a mechanism that would raise the rate on wealthy tax filers but not on top-bracket filers who have a certain number of employees.
The search for solutions doesn’t seem to matter to Obama, who has been reassuring allies on the Left that he’s not going to back down.
Blowback
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If we only had a statesman. Even a single statesman. My kingdom for a statesman.
Paul-Cincy on December 7, 2012 at 1:31 PM
I repeat- No debt limit increase.
Live within your means tough guy
Bensonofben on December 7, 2012 at 1:31 PM
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/statesman
2. A male political leader regarded as a disinterested promoter of the public good.
Paul-Cincy on December 7, 2012 at 1:32 PM
The defacto, actual manifestation of a balanced budget amendment. It has to happen, sooner or Weimarily.
Paul-Cincy on December 7, 2012 at 1:34 PM
I just heard on the half hour news, boehner said that nothing new has been done and it has been a total waste of a week(not direct quote). I wonder if that worm will stick up for us?
L
letget on December 7, 2012 at 1:34 PM
It’s pointless, (R)s. This is about something else, and the (D)s have won. You’re trapped and have no way out.
If you bargain with Obama he gets his tax increases and can spend more money. You’ll be attacked for not having principles, being (D)-lite, etc. Division in the ranks, possible third-party challenges to split the vote, you name it.
If you decide “heck, the financial burdens and spending increases will be less damaging to our country if we don’t come to some agreement with Obama and just let the planned cuts and tax increases occur” then you’ll be attacked as anti-whatever, hating the middle class, uncaring about the nation’s finances, proof that you’re for The Evil Rich, etc.
The (D)s don’t care about our finances or well-being. They want to lessen competition from you in future elections.
Nothing more, nothing less.
rogerb on December 7, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Paul- essentially forcing Obama to make a stand.
He can proclaim that in order for hos plan to work- he needs more taxes OR he has to make cuts.
We can not let him continue to borrow now so that some future generation has to make tougher choices.
I say don’t let it burn- but make it hot.
Bensonofben on December 7, 2012 at 1:43 PM
Why bother trying to come up with a plan? It is absolutely pointless to try and bargain with someone who has no intention of trying to be fiscally responsible.
I would pass a bill in the house to extend the tax cuts and see what the president and senate want to do.
tommer74 on December 7, 2012 at 1:44 PM
Not a line that inspires confidence.
besser tot als rot on December 7, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Aw, how cute. You still think our government abides by the constitution.
The Rogue Tomato on December 7, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Yep. And when it’s voted down by the Democraps in the Senate, Boehner needs to go on television and say that the Republicans in the House passed a tax cut for the middle class, but it was voted down by the Democrats in the Senate.
Beat them at their own game.
UltimateBob on December 7, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Nice in theory. But this totally ignores that Boehner is incapable of achieving this, and that the press would push hard on the narrative that this is Boehner’s fault. The only Republican that has even close to the influence in the press to overcome this type of narrative would be a presidential candidate. And, unfortunately, Romney did not have even the slightest interest in presenting free market principles (and how they are superior over socialism) to the public.
besser tot als rot on December 7, 2012 at 2:14 PM
Not only that, the press will always, ALWAYS side with 0bama. So, no matter what the republicans do or say, by the time it passes through the 0bama butt-sniffing media, it will be made to be their fault.
UltimateBob on December 7, 2012 at 3:30 PM