OMG! LOOK WHAT THOSE TRAITOROUS DEMS HAVE DONE NOW!

[LeftCoast]

House votes to protect millions from tax hike

WASHINGTON -- Capping a spirited debate, House members voted today to shield more than 23 million Americans from a tax hike this year under the alternative minimum tax -- and hit up wealthy managers of investment firms such as private equity and hedge funds to pay for it.

The 216-193 vote, which closely followed party lines, escalated an emerging battle political over tax priorities, after years of Republican anti-tax fervor. While members of both parties overwhelmingly wish to defuse the alternative minimum tax, they have a sharp dispute on how to do it, and the future of the tax hike planned for rich investors is doubtful.

Many Democrats seek to shift the tax burden toward the richest Americans, while many Republicans argue that the bill was just the first step toward major tax increases that they say are sought by Democrats, who now control both houses of Congress.

"I feel like the little boy in Holland sticking his thumb in the dike," said Rep. Jim McCrery of Louisiana, senior Republican on the Ways and Means Committee. "If I'm not here today about to stick my thumb in the dike . . . we're going to have a torrent, a flood of tax increases over the next 10 years."

Democrats contended that the proposal would restore fairness to the nation's tax structure.

"How can you possibly call it a tax increase when we're trying to bring some degree of equity to the system?" asked Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and the main author of the tax plan.

Follow this link to read more of the LA Times article

[BuyingThyme]

1. More legislation that will not pass, instead of doing the work of the people.

Why celebrate failure?

[aquart]

3. Would you care to explain that silly statement?

Because I'm pretty sure that legislators are supposed to create and propose legislation. Do you have some OTHER "work of the people" that WILL pass?

[BuyingThyme]

7. How 'bout they stop funding the war and start impeaching the criminals?

By the way, the bill is a joke. It can't get through the Senate unless the burden is taken off the rich and put to the debt.

[sharp_stick]

17. Yeah, it's not like that impeachment thing

that'll just whiz through both houses wont it? Talk about a waste.

[BuyingThyme]

20. Some people don't think the Constitution is a joke.

But we know this bill is.

[mmonk]

26. Stop that argument please.

I can't take that garbage anymore.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. Get back to me when it gets signed or the veto is overridden.

It's fine that they passed this bill. It does not make up for the crap that has been the hallmark of this term of congress.

[sharp_stick]

19. I don't think a lot would work for

some of the whiners that populate this board these days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. The whiners respect the Constititon and put the foundational papers of the

Republic over political expediency

You, on the other hand, put expediency over the law,,, and party over country

[Toots]

39. You don't seem to grasp that without accountability none of it matters.

When you abandon the US Constitution which is our basis of Law then all else is nil. None of it means a damn thing..

[warren pease]

37. If you don't remove the veto pen from the clutches of Bush and Cheney...

Nothing useful will pass into law. Removing that pen is simple: Impeach the bastards. This would be Congressional time well spent for so many reasons that I'd get typists cramp listing only half of them. And spare me the "we don't have the votes" nonsense.

We don't have the votes in the Senate? Tough shit. Do the right thing anyway. Maybe when mass media is forced to cover impeachment hearings and the sheer magnitude of BushCo's crimes committed against the American people and the rest of the planet are revealed to the public, voting for impeachment might just be the only way to preserve House and Senate seats in the next elections.

What the hell is so hard about understanding that simple calculus? Why tout the alleged accomplishments of the 110th congress when not a single progressive initiative stands a hockey puck's chance in hell of passing into law as long as these vermin remain in office?

And there's always that pesky Constitution that sorely needs restoration. I understand that congressional oaths of office have some wording about protecting the Constitution against enemies, both foreign and domestic. What the hell ever happened to upholding oaths of office? Are we so thoroughly corrupted and jaded by bribocracy politics that these kinds of sacred vows are now meaningless?

I sincerely hope not, but best evidence suggests that this entire pack of enabling bullshitters -- with some very notable exceptions -- has absolutely no desire to remove BushCo from office.

This despite the administration's seven year record of ignoring or circumventing any part of the US body of law they feel gets in the way of their agenda of permanent war, imperialist resource grabs, mercenaries protecting the executive branch from the people, torture, "special rendering," massive profits for the arms industry and its investors, environmental devastation and the rest of the PNAC/BushCo war plan against US citizens and the people of the rest of the world.

So while I'm glad the House actually passed a bill to transfer a bit of wealth from the top down for a change, you know damn well it won't get past Bush's veto pen. Why not impeach AND do the peoples' business at the same time? Are these people so useless that they can't walk and chew gum at the same time?


wp

[cali]

yes, indeed. Why should they even try?

And hell, the millions and millions of middle class Americans hit by the AMT don't deserve any protection.

As usual, you post a bizarre response. The dems are right to try and force this issue.

[BuyingThyme]

10. They're not forcing anything. They're done.

How is it that you're always wrong?

[cali]

22. I'm always wrong only in

your little under the sea world; not here on DU and not in real life. You on the other hand..... well, let's just say your comments are... interesting.

[BuyingThyme]

28. Like Pelosi, Turley and the FISA bill immunity?

Really, when have you ever been right about anything?

[old guy]

5. Damn!

I wish I could argue with you but... well... never mind.

[Ian David]

11. I gave up and put him/her on my ignore list a while back. n/t

[BuyingThyme]

16. Oh, really? How did you know it was me?

How did you know what I said?

Strange.

[sharp_stick]

21. Probably just assumed that there was some

mindless whining going on and put 2 and 2 together.

[BuyingThyme]

25. Then there were two.

If it's mindless, why the dishonesty? Can't you be honest and stand behind your position? I never find myself making things up to support my position.

Strange.

[SteppingRazor]

2. Trying to make the tax system more progressive?!

Why, that's just unseemly!

[Disturbed]

15. "Democrats, who now control both houses of Congress."

Do the Dems really have a controlling majority in the Senate?

[SteppingRazor]

23. Hmmm... maybe you meant to respond to the OP, not me? But what the heck, I'll answer you anyway.

By the strictest definition, yes, the Dems are the majority party in the Senate. But since that majority breaks down into 49-49-2, with both independents caucusing with the Dems, you could certainly make the argument that it's probably the weakest majority in the history of the Senate.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. 216-193: I smell a veto.

So no, this won't count for anything.

[cali]

6. Sure it counts for something.

Are you suggesting they shouldn't even try to address this because * will veto? And btw, this will mean something to voters.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. No I am suggesting that this does not compensate for the other crap

that our fabulous congressional leaders have managed to accomplish. Not in the slightest.

[cali]

18. Who said it did compensate?

It's still a damn good thing. Sad that you can't see that.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. Sort of the implied theme of the OP.

At the moment this is an incomplete bill, so it is effectively nothing. If it manages to get through the senate and through *'s pen, it will be a good thing. As I said, attempts to portray this as somehow mitigating the crap that has transpired are pathetic.

[Fresh_Start]

14. You know of course the GOP planned to fix AMT

before the Dems took the Congress. They just weren't going to pay for the tax reduction.

[hack89]

9. I see nothing wrong with an AMT fix

it touches a lot of middle class tax payers like myself

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Veto in the near future

the time for negotiations are over... but many just don't get it

[jgraz]

29. Was that before or after they confirmed the torture guy?

[MADem]

31. Jesus Christ. That was the Senate, this is the House. Get your legislative bodies straight.

Your beverage container is reliably three quarters empty though, I guess...

[The Stranger]

32. That wouldn't have made a difference -- the Democrats act like Republicans in both Houses.

[MADem]

36. Yeah, how silly of me, to actually concern myself with that rule of law and so forth. NT

[The Stranger]

38. Actually, the Democratic leadership has been eviscerating the rule of law with the Neocon Junta.

Glad you seem to be keeping up with current events.

[MADem]

41. No they haven't, but you have fun with that "Neocon Junta" phrase!

It probably gives you a bit of joy, for whatever reason.

[jgraz]

33. Sorry. Was that before or after they voted against impeaching Cheney?

Better?

[Warren Stupidity]

34. No, our pollyannas will find some other tangential nit to pick.

The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar
That tomorrow
There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about
Tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs,
And the sorrow
'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck a day
That's gray,
And lonely,
I just stick out my chin
And Grin,
And Say,
Oh
The sun'll come out
Tomorrow
So ya gotta hang on
'Til tomorrow
Come what may
Tomorrow!
Tomorrow!
I love ya
Tomorrow!
You're always
A day
A way!

http://www.jansjoyousjungle.com/sunout.html

[MADem]

35. Uh, impeachment starts in the HOUSE, too...try again.

Because the House voted IN FAVOR OF that measure. They didn't shoot it down.

The GOP carried the day on that one too. Their goal was to embarrass the Democrats.

But they didn't vote AGAINST it.

[blondeatlast]

40. Wrong legislative body. Congress for Kids, link below.

http://www.congressforkids.net/

[MADem]

30. Ahhh, Charlie, you'll find a WAY 'cause you got the MEANS!!! nt