On GOP Oposition to the Obama Payroll Tax Cut
After quoting Doug Mataconis and citing the LATimes and Brad Plumer on Michele Bachmann and other conservatives skeptical about the payroll tax cut, Steven L. Taylor at Outside the Beltway concludes:
First, opposing cuts to payroll taxes undercuts several key Republican claims in regards to fiscal policy, including the notion that it’s “the people’s money, not the governments” and therefore any time you can let the people keep their money it is an unvarnished good.
Second, this then raises the potential that we can actually have a rational dialog* about taxes and spending, because if (as per Bachmann, Sessions and Price above) the payroll tax cut might not be worth the cost, then perhaps other tax proposals might should be evaluated in that fashion.
Third, I must confess, the GOP response to this particular tax cut does raise the issue of why they are in favor universally for tax cuts that help upper income earners, but lose their zeal for a tax cut that predominantly help lower income earners. Now, this may well be that the basis of the GOP economic theory, i.e., that only upper income earners can stimulate the economy. However, politically it will raise questions and opposition to the payroll tax cut will provide a line of attack for the Democrats.
One last thought: this entire debate should be a reminder to everyone that, yes, everyone pays taxes, even low income earners (contra those who like to cite only income taxes as taxes, such as in the infamous formulation: 47% of the population doesn’t pay taxes!).
Great points, each and every one of them!
6 Responses to “On GOP Oposition to the Obama Payroll Tax Cut”
This is true, but the payroll tax cut proposal also runs counter to the “tax cuts, never work, we need more government spending” point of view.
Absurd logic. According to Taylor all Republicans should be trying to eliminate taxes. While I know a few libertarians that hold that view I don’t know any Repubs that do. I also have never met a Repub that is universally for any tax cut. Never. So where is Taylor finding these Repubs and are they anything but a vague caricature of Republican ideas? And of course everyone pays taxes but many get a “rebate” that more than covers every federal tax they pay. Spin it how you want but someone who gets more than they put in isn’t a net payer.
“So where is Taylor finding these Repubs and are they anything but a vague caricature of Republican ideas?”
Too bad republicans of today weren’t just caricatures, but they have in too many cases become the caricatures they were once depicted as. Whose fault is this?
Criticism usually packs more punch when it’s on topic.
First, we have links going to Republican comments in reaction to Perry’s debate comments on the Social Security program.
I thought Obama’s topic was jobs creation. So, how exactly will extending the payroll tax cut create jobs?
And just in case it is tempting to comment without facts, the private sector unemployment rate went up during the period of the initial payroll tax cut.
CO, are you really working that hard to prove that the modern conservative has forgotten the phrase is supply and demand? No customers with money, no demand, no business. It’s not that complex. Yet the modern hard core supply sider just never seems to get it.
If you would take off the partisan gogles you would see that it simply isn’t true. But of course your statment shows how little you care about reality. Rooting for your side (or trashing the other) is so much more important.