Lawmakers stand firm on taxes as talks start

[Lasher]

Source: Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- Democrats and Republicans are working to reach a deal to extend Bush-era tax cuts that expire at the end of the year, but neither side is budging as negotiations begin in earnest.

Even as they talk, House leaders are planning to hold a politically charged vote Thursday to extend middle-class tax cuts while letting taxes for the wealthy expire.

The bill, even if it passes the House, stands no chance in the Senate. Nevertheless, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he is considering holding a similar vote.

"House Democrats have long supported extending the tax cuts for America's middle class," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "Democrats continue to have concerns about the impact on the deficit of giving a tax cut to the nation's wealthiest 2 percent."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/01/AR2010120100740.html

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Too little, too late. We are left to wonder what a difference it might have made if this would have occurred earlier this year. Well at least Republicans will be forced to vote against tax cuts, for the record.

[tomm2thumbs]

1. the gop isn't going to budge, they have more leverage in January - and know it

the White House sure thinks they know how to play poker, but Old Maid isn't going to pass this go 'round

bring in Howard Dean and maybe they'll figure some things out - otherwise, they aren't going to get much done

[rucky]

2. But they'll actually have to make a plan.

Then reconcile it with the Senate.

Letting them expire is a good move for the Dems, IMO.

[No Elephants]

4. Only if Dems do a good job of messaging, which is not their strong suit.

Otherwise, all most Americans are going to know is that withholding went up, january 1, 2011, while Democrats controlled Congress and the WH.

[Lasher]

3. True, but it will be funny to see them voting against tax cuts.

All of the Bush tax cuts are going to expire at the end of this year and it's Republicans' fault.

[No Elephants]

5. What vote?

[Lasher]

6. The vote in the House tomorrow.

according to the article.

[No Elephants]

8. Oh, that. I remember when the House voted for a public option. Senate Republicans never had to

vote against it. (For that matter, neither did a single Senate Democrat ever have to vote against it. Yet, we don't have one.)

Real or kabuki? I have no idea anymore.

[tclambert]

7. But the Republican propaganda machine will claim it was Democrats who ended the tax cuts.

They will repeat the charge endlessly, the same way they repeated "failed stimulus plan" during the last election. They will never mention deficits in the same breath as tax cuts. They will, however, bring up deficits whenever they talk about jobless benefits. And they will bring up deficits whenever they talk about Social Security, even though Social Security has never contributed one penny to the deficit.

[groundloop]

9. BINGO!!!! You've nailed it

republicans are in it for the wealthy, and between them and their faux news noise machine do a damned good job at lieing about it. Democrats are attempting to stand up for the average citizen but don't have a comparable spin machine.

My pathetic senator (Johnny Isaakson) was on NPR last night saying how he supported ratifying the arms reduction treaty with Russia, but he said he'd only vote for it if tax cuts were extended for ALL Americans (i.e. the filthy rich). Bastards. It's time Harry Reid called their bluff.

[old mark]

10. I guess everyone gave up on extending the UC benefits? They will probably give up on this, too...nt

[Lasher]

11. They voted on that in the House on November 18.

The measure failed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9588048#9588118