GOP upset with Dem effort to extend only middle-class tax cuts

[sabra]

Source: MSNBC

At a pen-and-pad briefing with reporters today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D) reiterated that the will of House Democrats was to bring to the floor legislation that would only extend the Bush cuts for the middle class -- individuals who make $200,000 and below, and families at $250,000 and below. The GOP has said it wants an across-the-board extension for all income levels.

The politics of Hoyer's announcement struck some Republicans as somewhat surprising, given the goodwill that came from the White House's bipartisan meeting with congressional leaders yesterday morning. When asked if bringing up a bill that would only extend the middle-class tax cuts could hurt the bipartisan talks going on with the tax cuts working group set up by the White House, Hoyer said:

I talked to Mr. Van Hollen, and he and I both agree that this matter moving forward should not undermine negotiations on a compromise.

When asked whether or not it puts the GOP on the fence as being against tax cuts for the middle class -- unless the wealthy gets them as well -- Hoyer said, "I don't think it will undermine it, nor is it intended to embarrass, or put Republicans in a difficult place."

In a comment to NBC News, a senior GOP leadership aide fired back at Hoyer quickly saying:

"This announcement that House Democrats will vote to raise taxes on American families and small businesses clearly violates the spirit of the White House meeting yesterday and undermines efforts to reach a real solution to protect the American people from the January 1 tax hikes."

...

*** UPDATE *** House Minority Leader Eric Cantor just released this statement: "The legislation that Leader Hoyer announced he'd bring before the House would raise taxes on many small business people and families, and shows a clear disconnect from the economic reality facing our country. It's a non-starter, and is completely contrary to the discussion that we had with the President yesterday at the White House. This is nothing more than political chicanery and undermines the President's ongoing discussions and efforts on tax rates."


Read more: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/01/5561324-gop-upset-with-dem-effort-to-extend-only-middle-class-tax-cuts

[Enrique]

1. I'm detecting a talking point...

"violates the spirit of the White House meeting"...

"completely contrary to the discussion that we had with the President yesterday"...

[Andy823]

12. So let me see now

Do you "REALLY" believe what republicans tell you? I don't. And what about their trick this morning of saying they will block every bill that comes forward till they get their way? This whole idea that republicans are willing to work with democrats and the president is insane, and they pretty much proved that today with their threat! Of course if you want to believe the republicans, it's your choice!

[Volaris]

17. I wont speak for everyone here, but

if the GOP plans on blocking all legislation from now until the end of the year, doesn't that result in ALL the tax cuts expiring anwyay? Now, I'm not saying that I would WANT a tax hike for the middle class at the moment, but wouldn't having all taxes put back to the 2000 levels require a lot less pain in the long term over having chewed another GOP created 700Billion$ hole in the budget? I know it will suck for the middle class in the short-term here-and-now, but if the GOP wants to be stupid enough to shoot themselves in the foot by NOT allowing passage on anything now, then they have to do it THEMSELVES in the next session, cause they won't likely get any help from the sane people left in Congress. This means that while they CAN spend the next 2 years harping about the "evil sholists who just wanted to raze your taxes", mostly people will know that it was the GOP who passed the "Debt for Poor, Cash for Rich" bill without any Dem help. If I were in charge of the message machine for the Dem. Party, I wouldn't pass a damn thing on this, and let the GOP have their collective craw stuffed with Crow for the next 2 years. Fuck em if they want to be that stupid.
Thoughts on this?

[leftynyc]

2. Sickening

First they send a letter to the white house signed by each puke senator that says NO COMPROMISE and then they whine about the the "spirit" of yesterday being broken. And the media lets them get away with it.

[FirstLight]

3. fuck them all in their fucking asses!

all of them are just playing us...meanwhile millions are going to be starving and losing homes over christmas...

assholes, ALL of them

[Blue Owl]

4. Who cares -- FUCK 'EM

Why negotiate with those who seek to bring this country down?

If they're upset, then that's a GOOD SIGN for our ailing country.

[DJ13]

5. See, this is why our party fails

"When asked whether or not it puts the GOP on the fence as being against tax cuts for the middle class -- unless the wealthy gets them as well -- Hoyer said, "I don't think it will undermine it, nor is it intended to embarrass, or put Republicans in a difficult place.""


The Republicans use every opportunity to their advantage, not using a perfect talking point (GOP being against tax cuts for the middle class -- unless the wealthy gets them as well) to obtain the results most in the party want is just handing over power to the GOP needlessly.

[Parker CA]

8. Same thought went through my head. Yes! It should embarrass them! They're anti-American. Tell the

truth! Put the GOP in the spotlight and make them actually own and defend their policies and talking points.

Right now our leadership is almost useless. Pelosi has strong moments, but no one seems to back her up or spread OUR message far and wide. We delay in responding then get pounced on when the GOP reacts immediately with their forceful messages. It's BS, but they're in sync and constantly ready to go. It fits the MSM need for immediacy and conviction.

We can learn from their tactics.

[Democrats_win]

6. Go get 'em Democrats! Make the Republicans vote AGAINST tax cuts!

YES!

[Andy823]

13. I agree.

Get them on record as voting NO for the middle class, then if they still want to play games let them all expire and use their votes to show the public just who it was that killed any chance of getting the tax cuts for the middle class! Put these assholes in their place and show them they are NOT running things in D.C.!

[LongTomH]

7. Fuck 'Em!!!!! And the horses they rode in on!!!!!!

[Plucketeer]

9. WHO'S with me????

I want to go to DC and CHOKE some sense into our supposed representatives! :grr:



IMPENDING GOP JOBS PLAN DEPICTED BELOW

[old mark]

10. You know, I really don't care if the GOP is "upset" - but I guess the Democrats do,

at least the "Democrats" in the White House...


mark

[elleng]

11. This is what we get when we pause for a moment from being 'nice guys,'

repugs slam. Typical, its their game. We're supposed to be nice all the time, and they'll kick us because of that modus, and when we take 'new' slant, they kick us.

They've perfected p.r., we never have done so, and we lose. That's the way of the world. Going to have a drink.

[ProudDad]

14. Don't worry pukes...

the blue-dogs in the Senate will fuck this up...

And Obama will sign it...

And your rich friends (and THEIR rich friends) will get their $700 billion on the credit card...

[denverbill]

15. Lies, lies, and more lies.

"The legislation that Leader Hoyer announced he'd bring before the House would raise taxes "

Bullshit. Complete, utter falsehood. Cantor is a proven liar.

This bill doesn't raise ANYONE'S taxes. There is NO tax increase in this bill. As a matter of fact, everyone, including billionaires, will get a tax cut from this bill.

Billionaires taxes would go up, but that has nothing to do with this bill. They will go up because Bush's bill put an expiration date on them.

[booley]

16. WTF? Cutting taxes will raise taxes?!

I know the gOP has take 1984 and used it as a guide book, but this seems insane even by their standards.