Here’s what the Senate Republicans sent to President Obama regarding tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans: “…We write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. . . . While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate’s attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.”
At issue is a 3.9% tax cut ONLY on taxable income exceeding $250,000. Those taking in above that would receive the tax cuts for their taxable income in the lower income brackets. So under the Democratic proposal EVERYONE would get to keep SOME tax cut. It is not a “job-killing tax hike” either, since it’s been in effect for 10 years and didn’t create any jobs. Actually raising the tax rate on this income might encourage more job-creating investment.
This shows the depravity of Republican lawmakers. They would hold out for that ADDITIONAL tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and hold every other action needed, whether tax related or not, hostage to getting that ADDITIONAL cut for the very wealthy. They’re vowing to stop repeal of DADT (which close to 80% of Americans indicate they want), approval of the New START arms control treaty (a national security essential treaty created and championed by Republicans and Democrats alike), the DREAM Act (to allow a path to citizenship for young folk who serve in the military or get higher education), EVERYTHING unless they get that additional tax cut. They would even hold up payments of benefits under unemployment INSURANCE that people paid for and should receive – sending millions to the streets for Christmas.
These Republicans are cynical, crazy and ignorant racists who would sacrifice our entire country to their goal of politically damaging our President. I don’t think that, in the history of the US, there has ever been such a blatant attack on our whole nation by it’s own elected Senators. Yesterday, in the House, the Democrats passed a tax cut affecting EVERYONE with Republicans voting against it because it did not keep the additional tax cuts of 3.9% on income above $250,000. The Democrats are on YOUR side. The bill will go on to the Senate where it surely will encounter Republican obstruction. Furthermore there’s no indication that, even if the Republican Senators got their tax cut for the rich, they would vote for these other high-priority bills. They work for their corporation and ultra-rich campaign contributors, not for us. Keep this in mind come 2012.
Tags: Democrats, Republicans, taxes
MB Lockhart's Blog 
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