What now?

[ProSense]

Almost a week has gone by since the Senate plans were voted down last Saturday.

Reid plans a vote on a slightly changed bill on Monday

The Congressional Black Caucus basically issued its version, which is basically the President's bill minus the tax cuts for the rich.

If the Senate passes a bill on Monday, will the House support it?

What now?

Which one of these alternate plans will pass so that low-income, middle-class and unemployed Americans are protected?

[CakeGrrl]

1. Unfortunate, but there's no way I see the Senate Repubs NOT filibustering the CBC version.

Reid's version may pass, and then it's going to be the House (Dems) playing chicken with the Senate.

With, like it or not, a very direct negative impact on unemployed, low-income and middle-class Americans in the balance.

And it won't be the Senate who looks obstructionist.

That's Washington.

[ProSense]

3. That's the crazy thing

"Reid's version may pass"

There isn't a guarantee that it will, and that House members will support it.

[Milo_Bloom]

2. Hopefully ALL the tax cuts go away

And we can deal with unemployment separately.

Republicans have said they will only vote for UI Extension if there are cuts made to pay for it.

Cut ALL the tax cuts and institute the UI Extension.

[ProSense]

4. "Republicans have said they will only vote for UI Extension if there are cuts made to pay for it."

We'll see, but that doesn't do much for the people who will be hit with a tax increase and it kills the few stimulus programs too.

[Milo_Bloom]

5. The tax increase is inconsequential to say the least.

And there is no actual effective stimulus in this tax package.

[Whisp]

6. can be around $2000 a year, thats not inconsequential

for an average family.

Plus with the high unemployment families are helping extended families out so taking those cuts away from the middle class may not sound harsh to some but I bet 2000 or so isn't small beans to a lot of people.

[Milo_Bloom]

8. Incorrect.

Average is $93 per month. or $24.00 per week if someone is paid weekly.


http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/news/does-middle-class-need-tax-cuts?page=2

It is an inconsequential number when considering the consequences and other things that could be done with the money that are FAR MORE EFFECTIVE at stimulating the economy.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending the tax cuts for just the middle class would only reduce the unemployment rate between 0.1% and 0.3% next year, and the effect if tax cuts are extended for wealthy Americans would do little more.

In short.. it is a high cost with no real effective benefit.

[Whisp]

12. a 100 bucks a month may not sound a lot to some

but to others it is.

means whether you can pay the god damned heat bill.

jesus christ. but what the hell, as long as you can get your knocks in, damn the heat bill.

[ProSense]

14. Part of the argument against the deal is

that taxes go up a few dollars for some low-income Americans. It's an argument for the $400 to $800 dollar benefit of the Making Work Pay credit over the payroll tax holiday, yet that argument vanishes when talking about letting the middle-class tax cuts expire.

[Milo_Bloom]

15. To those it sounds like a lot to...

Are likely getting far far less.

Remember that $1000 is for a family making 50K... it gets WORSE % wise as you go lower down the pay scale.

[golfguru]

13. I am figuring $300/month more tax for us

that is far from inconsequential in our family budget.

[Milo_Bloom]

17. Where is this number coming from?

50K per year = $98.03 per month.

[golfguru]

20. My situation is slightly different

I am retired after working 44 years but wife still works full time.
Then include the higher tax on dividends and we will be pushing $300/month.

[Milo_Bloom]

21. Now be honest about something...

Will this change your life dramatically one way or the other?

I know my household stands to get about $800->1000 per month in savings from this tax deal, because I run my own businesses and can adjust my and my fiance's salary to take full advantage of tax laws (it is also the reason we don't get married).

Luckily, although it would be NICE to have an additional $800 per month.. we can survive fine without it and I would gladly sacrifice it for the financial health of the nation.

[golfguru]

24. A few hundred dollars won't make any earth shaking changes

in lives of me and the family. However every extra dollar that
is taken away from you, it comes from your discretionary money.
And that can take away a lot of every day small pleasures which
make the daily grind more palatable.

[stevenleser]

7. The unemployed and poor? Who cares about them? We're Liberals and... oh wait

we are supposed to care about them, aren't we?

But, Obama and taxes, Obama and taxes! Bad, caved, spine... who cares about the unemployed who could have gotten their benefits extended? They aren't the point! They're all Damn freeloaders anyway, at least according to the prevailing sentiment around here. They're pawns; cannon fodder for our battles with Republicans. IF they get chewed up charging the machine gun nests in our efforts to stop the extension of the tax cuts for the wealthy, they're just collateral damage.

[Milo_Bloom]

9. You can do far more for the poor and unemployed by getting rid of the tax deal.

It is a budget busting deal that leaves no room for REAL, EFFECTIVE ECOMONIC HELP!

[ProSense]

11. "It is a budget busting deal"

Sorry, but the people can't survive on concepts.

[CakeGrrl]

16. Exactly. Just how LONG do people think it will take to get REAL HELP through Congress

what with it becoming even more Republican in January?

Are people kidding? It's December 10.

UI benefits expire December 31.

So...what do those people do while Congress argues and debates and procedures and blah-blah and so on and so forth over REAL HELP?

[Milo_Bloom]

19. There are other programs available to help people.

[CakeGrrl]

22. Such as? And how soon can the unemployed take advantage after Dec. 31?

[Milo_Bloom]

23. Depends on the state.

All states still have welfare programs for families in need.. food stamps and other serives which can help.

[Milo_Bloom]

18. Nor can they survive on the tax deal.

[Ozymanithrax]

10. The Senate Repubs will not allow a bill without tax cuts for the wealthy...

It is a take it or leave it situation.

It will hurt to see the loss of 13 months of unemployment to the less than 99'rs.

The Repulbicans have the powr to do this. I'd bet they have a wa to seel this no matter what happens.

At this time, I don't support the bill.

[Skip Intro]

25. That is just the reality. The repubs couldn't care less about the unemployed. And they will face no

repercussions, elections are 2 years away.

Could be that this bill is the only way at this time to help those who are working and struggling, and those who are not working, and struggling as well. The only way I can see to get that done, is to allow the tax breaks for the wealthy as well.

Could Obama have fought harder, maybe not have given so many concessions, like on the estate tax? Sure, but we are where we are now, and the clock is ticking for the unemployed as well as those lower and middle class workers who would see a tax increase. I don't believe Dems will allow them to become casualties of this fight.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jenmito]

27. How and why are you digging up all these threads? You don't even have a star,

so you don't have the ability to do searches...