The Bush tax cuts sat near the top of the agenda as Congress returned from a five-week vacation Monday. There is the expectation that Congress will not do anything. This is because lawmakers will be more focused on campaigning for mid-term elections in about four weeks. Democrats propose repealing the Bush tax cuts for all but those making $250,000 a year or more. Republicans have made it clear that they won’t be voting for the Bush tax cuts unless it applies to everybody. A typical Congressional stalemate is what looks to be happening. We see some selfish decisions being made by House Minority Leader John Boehner. He explained that as long as he nevertheless got the tax cut, he’d vote cutting tax breaks on the rich.
Boehner’s Tax cuts by Bush explanation
The Bush tax cuts applying to all taxpayers enacted in 2001 and 2003 expire at the end of the year. Everyone but the wealthiest will get to continue with the Tax cuts by Bush if the Obama administration has its way. CNN reports that Republicans and some Democrats oppose the plan, calling it a tax increase in a weak economy. Tax cuts will end if the Republicans do a filibuster. They’ll do this if the tax credits aren’t extended to all. Democrats have accused Republicans of holding middle class tax breaks hostage in order to get tax breaks for the rich. Every person was interested to hear that Boehner was thinking about compromising on the Bush tax cuts.
Democrats scared enough to start hanging with Republicans
Boehner dropped his bomb even as a growing number of Democrats fearful of the mid-term election have said they may prefer to extend all the Bush tax cuts for an additional couple of years as the economy recovers. A temporary extension of tax cuts for the rich are suggested by at least 6 Democratic senators and Senate candidates, says the Washington Post. The House positions are getting filled. They’re being filled increasingly more by incumbents. An additional idea being suggested is raising tax cut thresholds to $1 million per household in case that person lives someplace more expensive within the country.
Rather than being interested within the middle class, Boehner is trying to get power
Democrats were pretty excited to view Boehner’s response to the Bush tax break issue. He didn’t even seem to care. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Boehner may just be trying to get Speaker of the House if Republicans start to control the government after mid-term elections. There is a difference between the opposition leader and the speaker. This speaker gets to get bills passed, says the Monitor . Boehner is making a smart move with the suggesting of an agreement. He could take credit for a new tax break deal that could take place. Republicans might show how much better they think they’re than Democrats at getting results by simply passing a tax bill before mid-term elections come. There is nevertheless no answer as the whether or not Boehner cares about the middle class. The Monitor had no response.
Further reading
CNN
cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/12/tax.cuts/index.html?npt=NP1
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/12/AR2010091204308_2.html?wpisrc=nl_headline and sid=ST2010091204277
Christian Science Monitor
csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0913/Why-did-John-Boehner-change-his-mind-now-on-Bush-tax-cuts
