Russ Feingold voted YES in 2008 for increasing tax rate for those earning over $1 Mil

[1776Forever]

Russ Feingold voted no yesterday on stopping that tax break for those earning over $1 million along with 3 other Dems (Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Jim Webb of Virginia, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, & Independent Joe Lieberman) What do you think made him vote no this time?

Russell Feingold on Tax Reform
Democratic Jr Senator (WI)

Voted YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million.

http://www.ontheissues.org/economic/Russell_Feingold_Tax_Reform.htm

CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: To put children ahead of millionaires and billionaires by restoring the pre-2001 top income tax rate for people earning over $1 million, and use this revenue to invest in LIHEAP; IDEA; Head Start; Child Care; nutrition; school construction and deficit reduction.

SUPPORTER'S ARGUMENT FOR VOTING YES:Sen. SANDERS: The wealthiest people in the country have not had it so good since the 1920s. Their incomes are soaring, while at the same time the middle class is shrinking, and we have by far the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country. The time is now to begin changing our national priorities and moving this country in a different direction.

This amendment restores the top income tax bracket for households earning more than $1 million a year, it raises $32.5 billion over 3 years, and invests that in our kids, including $10 billion for special education. OPPONENT'S ARGUMENT FOR VOTING NO:Sen. KYL: The problem is we are spending the same dollar 3 or 4 times, it appears. The Sanders amendment is paid for by raising taxes another $32.5 billion, ostensibly from the rich; that is to say, by raising taxes on people who make over $1 million a year. Here is the problem with that. The budget on the floor already assumes the expiration of the current tax rates; that is to say, the rates on the highest level go from 35% to 39.6%, and that money is spent. If you took all the top-rate income, you would come up with $25 billion a year, not even enough to meet what is here, and that money has already been spent. The reality is somewhere or other, somehow, more taxes would have to be raised. I don't think the American people want to do that, particularly in the current environment. LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Amendment rejected, 43-55 Reference: Bill S.Amdt.4218 to S.Con.Res.70 ; vote number 08-S064 on Mar 13, 2008
.....

Just wondering what changed his mind?
:shrug:

[PeaceNikki]

1. I think Feingold wants ALL the tax cuts to expire

They're unfunded and were a GOP trap that lead to the Bush Crash. He's a deficit hawk and fiscally responsible.

He didn't vote for tax cuts to rich, he voted against continuing the tax cuts at all.

[undeterred]

2. This has been asked and answered several times.

Thanks, PeaceNikki, for answering this again and again.

[1776Forever]

3. You knew then that he voted yes in 2008 for the end to this extension? n/t

[PeaceNikki]

4. Yay for cache!!

:D

[1776Forever]

5. So you knew he voted yes also in 2008? n/t

[PeaceNikki]

6. Yes. He's my Senator.

undeterred's also.

[1776Forever]

7. And you didn't find it odd the change of his position? Just asking n/t

[PeaceNikki]

8. No. See above.

[1776Forever]

9. Yes I get what you are saying but I am asking why he changed his mind this time from '08 n/t

[PeaceNikki]

10. He didn't.

Totally different bill and the game has changed since 2008. That bill had nothing to do with extending any cuts beyond their initial sunset dates. It was specific to ending them for the high-earners early.

You're comparing Apples to Jeeps.

[PeaceNikki]

11. More

Feingold Voted Against Senate And Final Passage Of The 2001 And 2003 Tax Cuts. (H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31, 5/26/01, Feingold Voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #165: Passed 62-38: R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01, Feingold Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, With Vice President Cheney Casting A “Yea” Vote To Break The Tie, 5/23/03, Feingold Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, Feingold Voted Nay)

Feingold Called The 2001 Tax Cuts “Fiscally Irresponsible.”Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/1/01) “Reaction to President Bush's speech to Congress generally fell along party lines, with Democrats singling out for criticism his proposed $1.6 trillion tax cut. ‘Fiscally irresponsible,’ said Russ Feingold, a Senate Democrat from Wisconsin.” (Katherine M. Skiba, “Reaction To Bush Speech Falls Along Party Lines,”

In 2003, Feingold Continued To Criticize The Tax Cuts. “Feingold said Bush's tax-cut plan would spiral into an unyielding deficit and take money from vital programs.” (Elizabeth Putnam, “Bush's Tax-Cut Plan Gets Little Support,” Wausau Daily Herald, 4/25/03)

FEINGOLD: ‘“It just doesn’t make sense,’ Feingold said. ‘This tax cut will hurt. We can still fix this.’” (Elizabeth Putnam, “Bush's Tax-Cut Plan Gets Little Support,” Wausau Daily Herald, 4/25/03)

So, it makes perfect sense and aligns perfectly that in 2008 he would vote to end ANY early.

See?

[elocs]

12. "Just wondering what changed his mind?" Why not use the hand search at the top of the page?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/searchresults.html?q=feingold%2Btax+cuts&sitesearch=democraticunderground.com&sa=Search&domains=democraticunderground.com&client=pub-7805397860504090&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A11&hl=en

That way the same questions don't get asked over and over and need to be answered over and over.