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brooklynite

(93,851 posts)
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 01:42 PM Jul 2020

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

Source: Washington Post

President Trump sought to draw a hard line on the coronavirus relief bill 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 “a lot of Republicans like it.”

...snip...

Trump’s comments come as Senate Republicans are exploring new limits on emergency unemployment benefits for people who were high earners before losing their jobs, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of internal planning.

If the White House and Senate GOP priorities make it into the bill, the legislation would effectively cut taxes for people who have jobs while cutting benefits for the unemployed.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/19/republican-stimulus-unemployment-coronavirus/

31 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump demands payroll tax cut while GOP eyes benefit cuts for unemployed (Original Post) brooklynite Jul 2020 OP
There goes SSI and Medicare . . Iliyah Jul 2020 #1
Barack Obama customerserviceguy Jul 2020 #4
Exactly. I don't think a payroll tax cut is a good idea, but I darn sure wouldn't delay an Hoyt Jul 2020 #5
Agreed customerserviceguy Jul 2020 #6
But is it still a good bill if it includes such a tax cut that will cause more problems? cstanleytech Jul 2020 #17
Rest assured that any bill the Republicans will come up with... regnaD kciN Jul 2020 #27
Trump already did a payroll tax cut. blueinredohio Jul 2020 #7
I don't think so. Igel Jul 2020 #12
I don't remember what it was called blueinredohio Jul 2020 #16
Not even close droidamus2 Jul 2020 #18
EXACTLY! My understand is Biden say he wants to raise it to $400,000. usaf-vet Jul 2020 #19
+10000...tell me why an ASSHAT like Limbaugh pays SS for two days per year.... Bengus81 Jul 2020 #21
Looked it up droidamus2 Jul 2020 #31
While raising the cap customerserviceguy Jul 2020 #26
Obama's had general revenues "repay" SS and Medicare for........ MRDAWG Jul 2020 #29
The Repugs have wanted to elliminate Social Security since before it came into being. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Jul 2020 #10
They're convinced it'll only affect "them damn minorities" sandensea Jul 2020 #14
love their T shirts....... DENVERPOPS Jul 2020 #30
He's bluffing customerserviceguy Jul 2020 #2
Just tell him the payroll tax cut is in there. louis-t Jul 2020 #28
Depression Maker Bill: anti-spending priorities, not what you need in a deep recession bucolic_frolic Jul 2020 #3
I might consider supporting a Democratic challenger in the primaries cstanleytech Jul 2020 #8
Another article posted here..sorry no link stated that gop & Dems were not for a payroll tax cut Thekaspervote Jul 2020 #9
repukes start high leaving room for negotiation, we need to do the same, demand 2k a mo stimulus yaesu Jul 2020 #11
The GOPpers.... Wuddles440 Jul 2020 #13
Meanwhile other than the virus rumored to be doing something, these lameducks should go golf & die? Brainfodder Jul 2020 #15
If you don't have a job you are not on a payroll so a payroll tax cut is useless Botany Jul 2020 #20
Like me...I was done in 2017 after paying taxes since 1968 Bengus81 Jul 2020 #22
Yeah, similar situation here. gab13by13 Jul 2020 #24
Why mess with SS? gab13by13 Jul 2020 #23
WHY is the orange man thinking about how to make our lives worse than it already is??? onecent Jul 2020 #25

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
1. There goes SSI and Medicare . .
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 01:46 PM
Jul 2020

What say you republican seniors . . . .

What say you republicans that are disabled . ..

Democrats want to preserve the programs.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
4. Barack Obama
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 01:52 PM
Jul 2020

signed payroll tax cut legislation, and the sky didn't fall.

I'm retired, and in my view, the biggest threat to Social Security and Medicare is rampant unemployment. We need to have people drawing payrolls to tax to keep those programs functioning.

 

Hoyt

(54,770 posts)
5. Exactly. I don't think a payroll tax cut is a good idea, but I darn sure wouldn't delay an
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 01:58 PM
Jul 2020

otherwise good relief Bill just to deny trump some small victory.

Democrats have a lot of work to do on Social Security in the next few years, or the bottom will drop out by 2030, or sooner if unemployment stays high.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
6. Agreed
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 02:01 PM
Jul 2020

When the Social Security Trustees make their next report on how long the system will be solvent, I fear it is going to be quite shocking, even if the economy does rebound after a Biden victory.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
17. But is it still a good bill if it includes such a tax cut that will cause more problems?
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 04:08 PM
Jul 2020

I do not think it is.
No, I think its wiser to hold off and not pass this for now because the Republicans are the ones that caused this mess in the first place so they are the ones that should be made to take the first bite out of this fresh shit pie they baked.
After the election we simply then can take a page out of the Republicans own playbook and ram through a number of things to help the economy recover quicker such as a massive infrastructure bill carefully crafted so as to get people back to work.

regnaD kciN

(26,035 posts)
27. Rest assured that any bill the Republicans will come up with...
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 05:35 PM
Jul 2020

...will provide only temporary relief, while creating permanent problems.

blueinredohio

(6,797 posts)
7. Trump already did a payroll tax cut.
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 02:08 PM
Jul 2020

There was a little more money in the paycheck but the tax rate didn't change so we ended up paying in a lot more than usual and had to raise our withholding so maybe next year it won't as bad. This is not in our favor.

Igel

(35,191 posts)
12. I don't think so.
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 02:56 PM
Jul 2020

I don't remember one and none turns up in searches before 12/31/19 going back to mid-2017.

Demands and requests for a payroll tax cut, but nothing from Congress.

Remember: Federal income tax is on net earned income, but the bottom 40% (last year and in previous years) pay pretty much no federal income tax. Payroll tax is FICA, Medicare.

A payroll tax cut that reduces FICA taxes would have no benefit for a lot of employees. In TX, for instance, most teachers pay into Social Security. When I was a grad student at UCLA we had our state DCP.

I think one sticking point will be SALT.

blueinredohio

(6,797 posts)
16. I don't remember what it was called
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 04:01 PM
Jul 2020

but it was when they messed with taxes. It had to be in 2016 or17 because I wasn't getting social security yet. I had to have taxes taken out of my s.s. and raise the withholding on my pension.

droidamus2

(1,698 posts)
18. Not even close
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 04:09 PM
Jul 2020

All they have to do is remove the payroll limit $137700 for social security and medicare and there would be no problem. As a matter of fact you could probably raise the benefits. I would also throw in some added tax that keeps the higher earners from converting pay that would be taxed for social security to stocks and such. Tax the value of all 'pay' not just the paycheck.

usaf-vet

(6,094 posts)
19. EXACTLY! My understand is Biden say he wants to raise it to $400,000.
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 04:44 PM
Jul 2020

Which means you would pay SS tax on every dollar you earned up to $400,000.

Which means new Congress members who earn $170,000 approximately. ONLY PAYS TAXES on the first $137,700 dollars.

He or she's would not have to pay the SS tax on $170,000 minus $137,700 or $32,300 not one red cent on $32,300 of income.

But if you were a teacher a firefighter, a nurse in an ICU, an EMT picking up Covid-19 patients and you were earning $32,300 a year YOU WOULD PAY SS TAX ON EVERY PENNY OF the $32,300.

WANT TO FIX Social Security? Raise the limit to MILLIONS if it would save SS forever.


Bengus81

(6,907 posts)
21. +10000...tell me why an ASSHAT like Limbaugh pays SS for two days per year....
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 04:55 PM
Jul 2020

If he's still making $30M per year he's all but done paying in to SS by noon on Jan 2nd. He skates like other rich fat cats for the other 363 days. Meanwhile most of the rest pay and pay and pay all year.

Hell I was self employed for 41 years, I paid TWICE as much seeing how no one was matching the other side. When the HELL did those cut off amounts get installed into SS?? I've never looked it up to see.

droidamus2

(1,698 posts)
31. Looked it up
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 09:33 PM
Jul 2020

FDR's original plan didn't have the wealthy pay in but they would not collect any benefits either. As the legislation made its way through Congress the salary cap was inserted instead. I think the cap is tied to inflation so it does go up a little every year. Personally I don't think there should be a limit on the tax but obviously the wealthy should be capped on how much benefit they can get.

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
26. While raising the cap
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 05:28 PM
Jul 2020

will be an important part of a long-term fix for Social Security and Medicare, I don't expect it to be used in the next stimulus bill. A short reduction in FICA and Medicare taxes on both employers and employees is not anything to hold up a stimulus bill over. We'll be far better off with a solid recovery and more payroll available to tax.

MRDAWG

(501 posts)
29. Obama's had general revenues "repay" SS and Medicare for........
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 06:33 PM
Jul 2020

shortages from the payroll tax. No loss of revenue for SS & Medicare trust funds.

10. The Repugs have wanted to elliminate Social Security since before it came into being.
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 02:41 PM
Jul 2020

Being able to eliminate unemployment benefits in the middle of a pandemic is just icing on the cake.

Tney've just been waiting to get a sociopath like Trump in office -- someone who will separate children and infants from their parents, and put them into cages; someone who will argue about giving aid to U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico, and the demand effusive praise for throwing paper towels over their heads like feeding pigs; someone who wants to start building nuclear weapons, despite the global Comprehensive Test Band Treaty; someone who has the WH press corps so cowed they won't even ask questions about Putin putting a bounty on U.S. soldiers' heads; someone who has washed his hands of dealing with the pandemic by gutting the function of the CDC and pulling out of HOPE; someone who accepts the word of a murderous dictator over the unified evaluation of his entire intelligence community; someone who placed a man with the least judicial temperament on the SCOTUS; someone who has made "grift" a common word and the concept of Rule of Law a joke; and a person who who presents a situation where we even have to wonder if he'll leave office if he loses the election.

And don't forget the 20,000 lies, which no reporter or congressman will challenge him on face-to-face.

Yes, the GOP has got the person who gives them everything they want. The entire party should be eliminated over the next few elections, and all of Trump's hand-picked flunkies should be kicked out the door, starting with Ivanka and Jared's pretty little asses.

sandensea

(21,528 posts)
14. They're convinced it'll only affect "them damn minorities"
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 03:11 PM
Jul 2020

"Trump won't touch benefits for us real Americans!"

DENVERPOPS

(8,677 posts)
30. love their T shirts.......
Mon Jul 20, 2020, 10:47 AM
Jul 2020

These Pathetic Red Neck Bubba's may get their wish!!!!!!!! LOL

All of them best enroll in a Russian Language class.......

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
2. He's bluffing
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 01:50 PM
Jul 2020

He'll sign anything that Congress can get to his desk. But, I have severe doubts about Congress being able to do just that.

bucolic_frolic

(42,664 posts)
3. Depression Maker Bill: anti-spending priorities, not what you need in a deep recession
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 01:52 PM
Jul 2020

Is Trump trying to grind the economy to a halt?

People with jobs won't spend more, or not much. Not in COVID World.

The unemployed will consume less.

This bill as the GOP is formulating it is a Depression Maker.

cstanleytech

(26,080 posts)
8. I might consider supporting a Democratic challenger in the primaries
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 02:12 PM
Jul 2020

over one that thinks a payroll tax cut is a good idea as all it actually does is hurt social security even more.

yaesu

(8,020 posts)
11. repukes start high leaving room for negotiation, we need to do the same, demand 2k a mo stimulus
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 02:54 PM
Jul 2020

for the remainder of the year, money for the post office and whatever else they need. Never low-ball at the beginning.

Wuddles440

(1,098 posts)
13. The GOPpers....
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 03:10 PM
Jul 2020

have exploited this crisis (no surprise) to their advantage (as usual) and will attempt to continue their looting with any pending stimulus package. They have been on a decades long march to destroy the Social Security and Medicare programs and attacking the payroll tax revenue is one of their prime objectives, along with refusing to lift the earning cap. Thanks to a criminal lack of overnsight in the previous stimulus measures the extent of known corruption and potential fraud is already epic, and I shudder to think what they actually have planned for us now. Bottom line - never, EVER trust a republican. Their only concern in how to enrich themselves and other members of their plutocracy.

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
15. Meanwhile other than the virus rumored to be doing something, these lameducks should go golf & die?
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 03:18 PM
Jul 2020

Kept it clean, for once.



Stay furious my friends!

Botany

(70,291 posts)
20. If you don't have a job you are not on a payroll so a payroll tax cut is useless
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 04:46 PM
Jul 2020

Trump is working 24/7 trying to destroy America because that is what his
boss, Vlad Daddy, wants.

gab13by13

(20,864 posts)
24. Yeah, similar situation here.
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 05:14 PM
Jul 2020

Payroll tax deductions do nothing for retired people, oh wait, we did get a raise this year, was it 1.6%, I forget.

gab13by13

(20,864 posts)
23. Why mess with SS?
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 05:08 PM
Jul 2020

The debt doesn't matter anymore especially when the money goes to the rich. If Trump really wants to help workers just freaking give them the money like he did for the rich. Trump's deficit is over 1.1 trillion dollars now.

onecent

(6,096 posts)
25. WHY is the orange man thinking about how to make our lives worse than it already is???
Sun Jul 19, 2020, 05:21 PM
Jul 2020

rump demands payroll tax cut while GOP eyes benefit cuts for unemployed. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM.
He's got all the money...and that is just the way it's going to EVER be.!!

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