With public's backing, Dems to push tax hikes for the wealthy

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/157513-democrats-to-aggressively-push-raising-taxes-for-the-wealthy

Congressional Democrats say they will aggressively push for allowing taxes to rise for the wealthiest Americans – a move they say is not only widely popular, but sets up a stark contrast with Republicans who want to keep the tax rates the same but make broad changes to entitlement programs.

With the Bush-era tax rates now set to expire at the end of next year, some question remains about whether Democrats on Capitol Hill will coalesce behind a plan for higher taxes for annual income above $250,000 for families or income north of $1 million.

But for the time being, lawmakers in the party are more than happy, messaging-wise, to set themselves up as champions of programs like Medicare and Medicaid, while casting Republicans as defenders of millionaires and billionaires.

(snip)
President Obama has thrown his weight behind the $250,000 number for higher tax rates, and several new polls also indicate that the idea resonates with the public. Some of that polling also found deep opposition to cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, programs that undergo vast changes if the House Republicans' fiscal 2012 budget was enacted.

[kentuck]

1. What courage!

Not.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

2. They could have done this two years ago.

But they didn't.

They could have done this in the lame duck session...oh wait, they did: the Democratic majority voted DOWN tax hikes on the rich.

Now they do it with a GOP House knowing its dead.

Color me unimpressed.

[ejpoeta]

3. couldn't they have just let the tax cuts expire? that would have happened

at the end of last year. just sayin.

[Motown_Johnny]

5. yes, but the (R) Senators were filibustering every bill until they got an extension

so nothing would have gotten done (including the START treaty). Also that would have allowed all of the tax cuts to expire and the (D)s want to keep the ones for people making less thant $250K/yr in place.

[Countdown_3_2_1]

6. They voted to continue the tax cuts for one reason:

Nearly every Democratic member of congress is RICH.

They say they're for the little guy, but they walk and talk with fat cats and their corporate masters.
I don't see why anyone here expects anything different from the leaders of our party.

[txlibdem]

8. Cast pearls before swine?

Give the poor and middle class fewer taxes to pay? I don't think so. Not from the fat cats in D.C.

[jaxx]

9. They voted to extend the tax cuts for 2 years and got

13 months unemployment extensions for millions of people.
tax breaks for the middle class and the poor for 2 years.
green energy funding.
a food safety reform bill.
DADT repealed.


Don't discount what was gotten in the trade off.

[Cal33]

11. You are right. If the super-rich were to be made to pay back all the

unfair profits they have stolen from the tax-payers (with interest), the national
deficit would already be taken care of. And if they were to pay their fair share
of taxes with no loop-holes from then on, the National Debt will also be quickly
be taken care of.

It's the corporations' corrupt and crooked practices that caused all the financial
problems to begin with -- and all the recent wars!

[Countdown_3_2_1]

12. Rich Democratic Senators and Rich Republicans will NEVER raise taxes on the Rich!

Lets face it. The overwhelming majority of both parties in the house/senate are rich.
They will NOT vote against their own interests now or ever.
Definition: Rich. Inseparable from corporate interests.

as long as there are repukes to blame for failure, Rich Democrats will be brave with tax bills.
In 2012 when we gain back congress, the issue will quietly die and never be heard of again.

[Cal33]

13. I wish I could be so sure that we will win back congress in 2012. ::). nt

[txlibdem]

16. Don't worry. If the republicans get back both houses of congress in 2012

they'll be lamenting that they can't pass any legislation because "the Democrats WON'T LET US."

See? No problem.

:sarcasm:

[OKNancy]

4. Timing is everything. n/t

[trotsky]

7. "Republicans who want to keep the tax rates the same"

Actually, didn't they propose even MORE cuts for the richest Americans in Ryan's budget proposals?

[n2doc]

10. Yes they (Ryan) did!

But the MSM won't mention that one....

[TheBigotBasher]

15. Not only that

they proposed tax ikes for everyone else calling it a restructuring of the tax plan.

[crickets]

14. 1. Finally!

2. I'll believe they're serious about it when they actually make it a reality.

At least they're talking about it again.