Your Black Politics reports:
The Republicans are at it again.
By refusing to extend payroll tax cuts for millions of working-class Americans, workers will most likely receive a smaller pay-check.
After President Barack Obama supported the Senate’s decision to extend the tax-cuts for at least two months, the House dismissed the move as “bad policy,” instead opting for a full-year extension.
Accused by Obama of placing party above policy, the GOP will be pitching that idea to an empty room, because the Democratic-led Senate, already adjourned for the holidays, refuse to come back and consider their plan.
The bill includes:
“Money for unemployment benefits, would have kept in place a tax cut passed last year that reduces the payroll tax for Americans from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of their income. The tax cut saves about $1000 each year for the average American family,” reports Newsone.com
The current tax-rate will increase to 6.2 percent on January first --- this translates to an average of $40 in lost wages for the average American family.
"Just today, one House Republican referred to this debate as 'high-stakes poker.' He's right about the high-stakes, but he's dead wrong about the poker. This is not a game," said White House senior adviser David Plouffe in an e-mail to Obama supporters. "We know better -- $40 has tangible benefits for millions of families. Can you help us prove that point?"
At a press conference after the vote, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio.) did the old Beltway Shuffle in an attempt to divert attention away from his party’s stall tactics:
"Now, it's up to the president to show real leadership. He said that he won't leave town for the holidays until this bill is done. The next step is clear: I think President Obama needs to call on Senate Democrats to go back into session, move to go to conference, and to sit down and resolve this bill as quickly as possible," said Boehner.
In a surprise White House briefing appearance---with a sign counting down the hours until GOP maneuvering caused the tax increase in stark relief behind him---President Obama made it very clear exactly what his next move is --- keeping the Republicans on the defensive:
"Let's be clear: Right now, the bipartisan compromise that was reached on Saturday is the only viable way to prevent a tax hike on Jan. 1," said the president.
Your move, Boehner.
3 comments:
I don't know about Boehner's move, but it is past time that we as a people get it right. In this case, Boehner was exactly on target.
Although it can be debated that linking the Keystone pipeline to tax cuts is a good or bad thing, it certainly reminds us that the same old politics are being played in Washington.
What was eye-opening about this debacle is that the US House was being pimped by the Senate.. and they didn't like it, holiday season or not; and we shouldn't like it either.
The US House of Representatives, by our Constitution, is really the ONLY body elected to federal government that reflects the will of the people. The President is installed via an electoral college (That's why Gore won the popular vote and not the election), the Supreme Court is appointed, and the US Senate is a statewide election versus one that represents a smaller, more regional constituency like the US House. So, when the Senate tries to tell the more locally controlled House that "here is our idea, now vote for it".. and then takes their jet home without waiting for a vote.. well, that's just plain wrong. It is also irresponsible, and it kicks the can down the road.. just as Boehner said.
No matter what was right or wrong before that moment, the Speaker gave us a chance to get our ship a little more in order.
We are supposed to be a nation of laws; we say that we are tired of the same old back door, good ole boy politics. Yet here, we had an example to tell Congress that WE are the ones that needed to be taken in consideration by having the Senate return to extend the tax cut to 1 year.
only that, the Senate Dems had the GOP over the barrel, and if they were really interested in extending benefits for Americans, they would have returned and delinked Keystone pipeline from the 1 year extension of payroll tax cut and received 1 year extension of the unemployment benefits.
But.. even though we pay their salaries and their plane tickets, even though military members will not see their families this Christmas, nor will many working Americans who travel for a living, even though there are a host of issues for 160 Americans that could have been avoided by Senator Reid just appearing to do what is right and say that they WILL solve the 1 year extension before 2012... they did nothing.
Moreover, the President took the opportunity to make it a political statement rather than educating the public that the Speaker was right and that Reid was wrong to run home so early.. or at least not make the committment from his Christmas vacation to return before 2012. Instead.. political theatre took place before Reid would talk.. and then he showed no leadership to return to DC.. on OUR dime.. and do his job instead of shopping at Gucci or some fancy jewelry store that most Americans can't afford.
When we get the opportunity to get it right, we have to first recognize it, and then make it happen.
The viable way to prevent a tax hike on Jan 1 was for 100 people to commit to give up their time after Christmas for the other 200 million that needed something done.
The President was flat out wrong here, and we can't and shouldn't be afraid to say it.
He has to pick it up for our community, we all know that. If he is re-elected, we are still looking for that audacity of change. He can start by taking these softballs and hitting them out of the park instead of laying down a bunt for his friends.
Editing correction note:
only that = Not only that
160 Americans = 160 million Americans
Thanks
Post a Comment