Obama: Republicans blocking middle-class tax cuts

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MATTHEW DALY

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama said Saturday that Republicans in the House are blocking a bill that would prevent a tax increase on the first $250,000 of income earned by all Americans.

The Democratic-controlled Senate has approved the measure, but Obama said House Republicans have "put forward an unbalanced plan that actually lowers rates for the wealthiest Americans." Obama supports a plan to raise taxes on families earning more than $250,000.

In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said "the math just doesn't work" on the GOP plan.

Obama's comments mark the fourth time since his re-election that he has used the radio address to push for middle-class tax cuts as part of a plan to avert a looming fiscal cliff - and his most sharply partisan tone.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20121208/DA31HV082.html

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In this Sept. 26, 2012, file photo, President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign event at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. A month after the bitterly fought election, Obama has his highest approval ratings since the killing of Osama bin Laden, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll, and more Americans say the nation is heading in the right direction now since the start of his first term. Obama’s approval rating stands at 57 percent, the highest since May, 2011, and up five points from before the election. And 42 percent say the country is on the right track. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

[Mass]

1. I wished he talked about the AMT and capital gains too as well as unemployment benefits.

I have come to believe that the rates are the least of our problems if the Senate bill does not pass. Both the AMT and the expiration of unemployment benefits will hurt people very much, while no change on the capital gain rates makes the rate hike only symbolic.

I assume they are part of the deal, but nobody speaks of them.

[Iggy]

2. The repugs got nothing... ZERO

I'm not sure how they think they're going to win this... they just got totally crushed in the election-- mostly because they appear to be elitist, bigoted wealthy snobs.

They apparently think they're going to come out of this smelling like a rose if they don't agree to a modest tax hike for the wealthy.. and instead do nothing and allow taxes to go UP for everyone. how in the F*** is this a winning strategy?

[GatorLarry]

5. TheyOwe!

Republicans owe and are owned by their fat-cat Masters. All they care about is staying in power (keeping their elected offices). If they bite the hand that feeds them, their careers are over and they know it.

I can't recall a better example of how the system we currently have is broken.

But the GOP is quickly making itself the new Whig Party.

[Wernothelpless]

3. The Dems are letting the GOP do the dirty work ...

My prediction ... we're going over the fiscal cliff and BACK to the Clinton era tax rates ... all of us ...

Get used to the idea, people ... they need the money (everybody's money) and nobody gets a break ...

Suck it up, we've got bills to pay ... GW's bill ...

[Scuba]

4. The "cliff" is far preferable to anything less than a 39% top rate ...

... and any elected official who agrees to raising the eligibility age or otherwise cutting benefits from SS, Medicare or Medicaid should not call themselves a Democrat.

[Cal33]

10. During FDR's time, the rate for top earners was 90%+. Joe Louis was

among them. What the top income people are paying today is peanuts.
And some of them get away with paying nothing at all. Most of the
advanced nations of the world pay far more taxes than we do.

What do the rich in America do with the money that they have stolen from the middle classes? Part of it is used to suppress the middle classes and
make them even poorer.

Now's the time for Obama to put the screws on them, and make them pay
back all of their ill-gotten gains -- with interest. Elizabeth Warren has
the knowledge, skill and courage to do it, too.

[Evasporque]

6. most of America knows the Republicans are paid for by the rich

We are seeing the demise of the Republican Party....the greedy wealth will never let their influence over the Republicans they elected go to waste. The mid-terms will see the Republicans crippled politically...and even the states will begin to turn.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. Too bad the DEM's don't have any power. Lots of excuses, though.

The GOP keeps 'em on a short leash.

[Ash_F]

8. Run with this until Dems have the house too.

"REPUBLICANS RAISED YOUR TAXES!"

All day, everyday.

[Beartracks]

9. Glad they're accurately describing it as tax on earnings > $250K.

While technically that's the same thing as describing it as a tax increase for families earning over $250,000, it's always important to note that that tax only applies to anything earned over and above the first $250,000.

Although, to be a grammar Nazi, I have to point out that the reporter's reference to a tax increase on "the first $250,000 of income earned by all Americans" sounds like only the first $250,000 that we, as a population, earn, will not be taxed.

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[Quantess]

11. "the fate of puppets is to never know they are dangling on strings"

What a great quote!

(edit typo)

[Beartracks]

12. Thank you very much! By the way...

... if you click the image it goes to my Zazzle shop. That design is in our political category there.



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[Quantess]

13. Zazzle shop? Is that like Bedazzled jeans?

No really, that sounds like an Etsy type thing.

[Beartracks]

14. It's a print-on-demand site...

... like CafePress and Etsy.

I've never checked out Etsy, although I think a lot of my fellow Zazzlers and CafePressers sell stuff there, too.

And, funnily enough, there is a Zazzle shop called "BeZazzled."

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[democrattotheend]

15. You should include your referral code in your link

That way if someone buys you will get an extra referral commission.

[Beartracks]

17. Holy cow, I thought I had done that! Thanks. n/t

[love_katz]

16. I'm shocked, I tell you.

Just shocked!

Is this really needed?

Repukes: dedicated to crashing the country, to the bitter end.