Trump demands payroll tax cut while GOP eyes benefit cuts for unemployed

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

President Trump sought to draw a hard line on the upcoming coronavirus relief bill on Sunday, saying it must include a payroll tax cut and liability protections for businesses, as lawmakers prepare to plunge into negotiations over unemployment benefits and other key provisions in coming days.

“I would consider not signing it if we don’t have a payroll tax cut,” Trump said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” Democrats strongly oppose a payroll tax cut, and some Republicans have been cool to it, but Trump said that “a lot of Republicans like it.”

Trump also said “we do need some kind of immunity” in the bill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has repeatedly insisted that the legislation must include liability protections for businesses, health-care providers, schools and others. Democrats oppose this, too.

Trump downplayed the spikes in coronavirus infections nationwide, arguing that it’s because of high levels of testing, something health experts in his own administration dispute. He also argued that the economy is “expanding and growing beautifully,” blaming Democratic governors for shutdowns he insisted were designed to hurt him in November.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-demands-payroll-tax-cut-while-gop-eyes-benefit-cuts-for-unemployed/ar-BB16VJ4b?li=BBnb7Kz

GOP = Greedy Old Pigs

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Let's say the bill from the House and Senate doesn't have a payroll tax in it.

Trump, the Tough Guy, vetoes it.

Now . . . . the Republicans in the House and the Senate have a dilemma: support the Veto or override the Veto.

Hmmmmmm, how many weeks before November 3? 16? I don't think voters will forget and forgive being denied their needed survival benefits.

[VMA131Marine]

2. This is a dumb idea

And the reason is that if you can benefit from it you have a job and probably don’t need it. The only way I would be in favour of this is if they also take the income cap off the payroll tax so that all income is subject to it.

[Hoyt]

3. If adding a payroll-tax cut is what it takes to get an otherwise good Bill by trump, I'd give him

his little victory. Obama pushed payroll tax cuts also.

[dflprincess]

4. And to hell with the people who depend on Social Security?

Because tax cuts will be followed by benefit cuts in a future "otherwise good bill".

[Hoyt]

5. That's not true, Obama had a payroll tax cut, and if we win election, we can make a lot

of changes in SS. In fact, we should have made changes long ago to bolster SS. Obama tried, but he was shot down.

But, stand tough, delay the relief Bill for weeks or months, and let trump say Democrats are opposing the relief Bill. That's what we are facing.

[dflprincess]

11. Obama could be trusted

His cuts were to the employee contribution and an end date was part of it.

[WyLoochka]

6. It would bankrupt Social Security

That is their top dream. They will do it in a way that is framed so they can say Democrats are against both workers and small businesses. This IS the way - payroll tax cuts. Trump has been pushing for this for months and pushing to make the cuts permanent.

Doing that would end Social Security. We need to fight against this disguised Social Security sabotage with everything we've got.

[Hoyt]

7. Obama had a payroll tax cut for several years.

Social Security is scheduled for a 23% cut around 2030 as it is. So we need Democrats elected to offices that will determine what happens.

[WyLoochka]

9. This time is not similar to 2011

Different times in 2011. We were not in the dire chaos that we have today. We had a responsible leader, the cuts were on the employee side, they were short term and Social Security was reimbursed.

I am of the understanding that agent orange, and the repubs in favor, want some significant employer side payroll cuts. The structural details of the cuts matter. Mnuchin and the repubs certainly can't be trusted to structure them so as to shore up Social Security and Medicare. We need to pay attention to what Pelosi and Schumer say about what the repubs propose.

Note the date of article below warning about the negative effect of payroll cuts on Social Security is pre the current disaster - last August.

Excerpt from the article - entire piece recommended.

"The Obama administration approved a payroll-tax holiday in 2011 and 2012 in an attempt to buttress an economy climbing out of the financial crisis. The cut was 2% for two years, and would have cost the equivalent of $300 billion today to Social Security. The general budget reimbursed the program for its losses, but that reimbursement added to the nation’s debt."

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/social-security-is-already-in-trouble-a-payroll-tax-cut-would-only-worsen-it-2019-08-20

[Hoyt]

10. Article written a year ago, need for CV19 relief now, another "could be"

a problem, etc.

I’m sorry, but “concern” article written a year ago means nothing now. But, go ahead and tell 20 million who need relief funds extended that Democrats are going to delay it over a temporary payroll tax cut. See how that plays.

[Tech]

8. Not after his tax cuts to the rich.