Harkin blasts fellow Democrats: ‘No deal is better’ than this ‘very bad deal’

[avaistheone1]

As the deadline to stop automatic spending cuts and tax increases trigger nears, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) took to the Senate floor on Monday to decry the current deal, saying “no deal is better” than the one currently on the table.

Harkin said he was “disturbed” to read a report in the Washington Post that Democrats were debating giving in on giving in on tax cuts up to $400,000 instead of the previously proposed $250,000 and that they were considering keeping estates of $5 million or more at the tax rate of 35 percent.

“Well, I can tell you Mr. President, this is one Democrat who doesn’t agree with that,” Harkin said, saying that the deal meant that the tax cuts would remain permanent, but “all of the other things that the middle class in America really depends [sic] on is extended for one year, maybe two years.”

“Well I just think that’s grossly unfair. Grossly unfair,” Harkin continued. He pointed out that those who make $250,000 or more a year are the top 2 percent of income earners in America. By moving the tax cuts to $400,000, Harkin said, it sends a message that earners who make that much are “middle class.”





VIDEO here
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/31/harkin-blasts-fellow-democrats-no-deal-is-better-than-this-very-bad-deal/

[pacalo]

1. Tom Harkin's word is gold to me.

A salary of $37,500/month, or $450,000/year, is not middle class but this deal would have classified those earners as such. Harkin said those making $250,000/year & up were in the nation's top 2%.

[cyberswede]

2. Good for him!

He's my Senator, and he's one of the good guys.

[marble falls]

3. And then there's Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA). Go figure.