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Senate Kabuki On Payroll Tax Cut
The US Senate tonight put on another kabuki show as they ‘rejected’ two plans to extend the payroll tax cut.
The Democratic plan, which would have paid for the cut with a surtax on millionaires, got a 51-49 majority but failed to get the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture.
A proposal by Senator Heller (R-NV) which would have paid for the cut by cutting spending failed by a much larger margin, with many Republicans voting no.
Of course all if this is show because we know they will reach a compromise (probably a mix of the two plans) and extend the cut. Nobody is going to raise taxes in an election year.
8 Responses to “Senate Kabuki On Payroll Tax Cut”
When the Senate passes a bill 51 to 49 but the Republicans continue their vicious and mean spirited obstruction of the business of the government it’s not “kabuki”… it’s “ka-bull$#!+”
The constant drone from the right that some how both sides are ‘equally responsible’ is making more and more thoughtful people not even want to read the propaganda… let alone comment.
There is a right and wrong here, but apparently the simple courage required to state it has become politically incorrect. By all means, let’s continue the fantasy. God forbid we should take a stand.
GOP: Tax cuts stimulate the economy and pay for themselves! (except for the tax cut Obama proposes, which we now feel has to be “paid for”)
Democrats: The Bush tax cuts proved that tax cuts don’t work and it’s better for the government to spend the money instead of lowering taxes! (but we still like the payroll tax cut and think it will stimulate the economy)
And of course, no one upon no one is going to mention Social Security soundness or stability.
Why not fix SS by just doing away with the payroll tax ceiling. Let those making 6 figure incomes pay on all their income.
Of course, there is the problem of not even looking at the macro level of things. Which group is most likely to spend money? The Democratic proposal suggests taking money from millionaires (who, btw, do not spend money–they use plastic and a money manager tells them if they are using too much–which is rare) and letting 150 million others keep more of their money. The Republican plan makes millionaires who are old (those who have Medicare) pick up the entire cost–instead of having all millionaires pick up the cost. Hmm…which one is ‘fair’? Either?
More to add: apparently the Republican version also called for eliminating food stamps, umemployment payments and a few other things for millionaires. Meanwhile, it would also require the elimination of 200,000 (yes that is 2 x 10^5) jobs from the Federal government. Oh, also a pay freeze for the rest of the federal workers.
Let me get this straight, so I’m understanding this correctly. We want to keep a tax cut (or increase it) for 150,000,000 Americans so that they will have a little more cash to spend. The reason is that we have a lot of unemployed people and 1) don’t want to increase that number 2) would like to see more get employed through stimulating spending.
The Republican way to increase the number of people who are employed is to cut 200,000 workers from the payroll. (Very, very long pause) 1/10th the workforce of the government (excluding military, I think) to be forced into unemployment. (Another very long pause) After states and local governments already cut >500,000 jobs from their rolls (which, if they had not been cut would reduce the unemployment rate considerably). (A permanent pause)
Rcoutme, the fairest way would be for everyone to sacrifice a bit instead of turning this into a choice of either millionaires must sacrifice or 150 million must sacrifice.