NYT: White House Helps Block Extension of Tax Cuts (Thanks, George)

[kysrsoze]

ASHINGTON, July 21 - The White House helped to block a Republican-brokered deal on Wednesday to extend several middle-class tax cuts, fearful of a bill that could draw Democratic votes and dilute a Republican campaign theme, Republican negotiators said.

The impasse was the latest sign of deep rifts among Republicans about budget issues. House and Senate Republicans had badly wanted to pass a popular tax-cutting bill before the Democratic convention next week. But in an improbable series of machinations, White House officials opposed the tentative deal worked out between House and Senate Republican leaders that would have extended the tax cuts for two years at a cost of about $80 billion.

That left Republicans conceding that the tax-cutting effort is over, at least until Congress returns from its recess in September. The Republicans' inability to agree among themselves cost them the chance to highlight their link to tax cuts as the election season moves into high gear.

At issue on Wednesday were three "middle-income tax cuts'' that were a central part of President Bush's tax packages of 2001 and 2003. The biggest was a $1,000 child tax credit, which will be reduced to $700 at the end of this year. The other two big measures set to expire are a reduction in the "marriage penalty," which pushes two-income families into higher tax brackets; and an expansion of the 10-percent tax bracket to cut taxes for more middle-income families.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/22/politics/22tax.html

More family values, eh? Well, I'm willing to pay my share but it's nice to see how the WH doesn't give a sh*t about us at all. More votes for Kerry!

[fdr_hst_fan]

1. They call themselves the

"Party of Family Values", but they're REALLY the "Party of Family Screw-you's!"

:nopity: :puke:

[Robbien]

2. Wow, that is not the spin BushCo was expecting

BushCo wanted it highlighted that he wants a five year tax cut, but we couldn't have it because the big bad Senate only wanted two years.

[Spangle]

3. So Bush isn't giving us that "refund" this summer...

Ya know, the one that gives the economy a "bost."

Then again, every has all ready figured out that it didn't and people wanted that big rebate all at once. Not part now, and the rest later.

[TahitiNut]

4. DimSon insists on having political coat-tails ...

... that drag his kindred Congresscritters out of office.

I wish I felt optimistic that a November defeat of DimSon and a few reichbots were anywhere hear enough to take our nation back from the abyss. Even if it happens, it's nowhere near enough.

[MallRat]

5. Under the Bush campaign's definition, the White House just RAISED TAXES!

Remember that bullshit the Bush campaign tried to smear Kerry with, where they insisted that he voted to raise taxes 350 times?

The way they arrived at that ridiculous number was by counting any vote, even minor procedural ones, in which Kerry voted against a tax cut.

So, if we apply the same logic to this bizarre development, Bush has no choice but to admit that by blocking the compromise measure, HE IS RAISING TAXES.

BUSH IS A TAX-AND-SPEND REACTIONARY!!!

:bounce: :eyes: :bounce: :eyes: :bounce: :eyes: :bounce: :eyes:

[zmdem]

8. Nice catch !

Yep, hilites the idiocy of our political parties.

[truthisfreedom]

9. excellent logic! right on the mark!

touché!

[Judi Lynn]

10. MallRat called it. Bush is going to raise our taxes.

If he claims he isn't, he's going to have to retract his accusations thrown at Kerry using the same logic. He can't have it BOTH WAYS!

Why shouldn't we keep more of "our own money," _George?

[struggle4progress]

6. kick

:kick:

[zmdem]

7. Good, deficits are mounting

and bit of fiscal responsibility is in order. The Repub tax cuts post 9/11 were irresponsible. Certainly, some were in order to jump start the economy, but they went overboard.