Republicans used to be thought of as the pro-business party. These days, however, any benefits that might accrue to businesses from federal legislation seem to take a back seat for Republicans to saving this country’s very rich from paying a bit more in taxes.
Consider the Payroll Tax debate now going on in congress. The newest proposal from Democrats aimed at extending lower payroll taxes, would only keep them at a lower rate for America’s 160 million workers. The previous Democratic proposal, however, which was rejected by Republicans, would also have extended lower rates to employers. (Under present law employers match worker Payroll Tax contributions.)
Imagine what this original proposal would have meant had it actually been enacted. Funded by a 3.5 surtax on incomes exceeding a million dollars a year, not only would the average worker continue to pay about $1,000 less in payroll taxes, but hundreds of thousands businesses would also have had a lower tax bit. And while large corporations would have benefited the most in total dollar terms, it would have been small businesses, so many of them so hard-pressed these days, that would have reaped the most needed help in their efforts to stay afloat.
Republicans the party of business? Not any more. At least, not any more when helping businesses, especially smaller ones, conflicts with saving the very wealthiest earners, who are gobbling up a greater and greater share of national wealth, from giving a little back.
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