After Dem leaders skip vote, Bush tax debate flares on campaign trail

[Francesca9]

Source: The Hill

The decision by Democratic leaders to skip a vote on extending the Bush tax cuts has led to intense campaign attacks on vulnerable House and Senate Democrats.

Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are under pressure for opposing GOP amendments that would have extended tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 under President George W. Bush.

Vulnerable House Democrats such as Reps. Suzanne Kosmas of Florida and Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota have also found themselves on the defensive.

...But leaving town without a defining vote on one of the biggest issues of the campaign has failed to shield embattled incumbents.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/122837-after-dem-leaders-skip-vote-bush-tax-debate-flares-on-campaign-trail

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This is very serious.

If the tax cuts are not renewed then every taxpayer will see their take-home pay go down.

The lowest income taxpayers will have their tax rate rise 50%

Mess with take home pay and the voters WILL notice.

The rhetoric about the wealthy is just spin, Democrats lack the votes to do anything but extend - or expire the whole enchilada.

[villager]

1. You mean -- their being chickenshit didn't *save* them!?

n/t

[msongs]

2. dog forbid the dems coulda forced the repubs to put up or shutup on the issue. oh well nt

[notadmblnd]

3. do you have any citations for your facts?

If the tax cuts are not renewed then every taxpayer will see their take-home pay go down.

The lowest income taxpayers will have their tax rate rise 50%

Mess with take home pay and the voters WILL notice.

[Francesca9]

8. It is all true

I don't need a link. I remember the Bush Tax Cuts very well.

Everyone's rates dropped - now all will rise.

The lowest rate was 15%, it dropped to 10%. When it goes back up - that is a 50% increase.

Trust me, people will notice the big decrease in take-home pay. They know these were "Bush" tax-cuts and will blame Democrats.

[Zhade]

13. Uh, yeah, when you make an assertion you sure as fuck DO need to back it up.

Your memory isn't evidence.

[B2G]

19. Here's one for you

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704689804575535861229293800.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection

[Yupster]

17. Nah -- no one noticed when the tax cut started

People got an extra $ 10 a month. They won't notice when it goes up $ 10 a month either.

The Bush taxcuts were for the rich. Let them expire. All of them. No one will care.

[notadmblnd]

20. Well, pardon me if I don't just take your word for it.

those kind of assertions here- are just litter if you can't back it up with verifiable links.

[B2G]

21. You don't like my link? n/t

[notadmblnd]

22. No, it addesses only your first assertion

If the tax cuts are not renewed then every taxpayer will see their take-home pay go down. this is true, of all the tax cuts are allowed to expire, there will be less in an employees paycheck. However, the 100 per year increase that the article estimates, would make less than two dollar a week difference in a pay check and the 124 a week extimate for people with children would only make less than a 2.50 a week difference.

The lowest income taxpayers will have their tax rate rise 50% Your article says nothing about a 59% increase. Infact, it implies the opposite.

Mess with take home pay and the voters WILL notice. The amounts estimated in your article are hardly eyebrow raising and I disagree that anyone will notice just like they really didn't notice when the previous adminsitation tossed us a sliver of a bone when it was giving away the farm to corporations and the rich.

No, your article is nothing but an attempt to put fear in people that don't know any better because they don't have time or are too lazy to pay attention to what has been going on the past several years. It's easier to listen to someone in a suit tell them what to think. Sorry:shrug:

[xchrom]

4. Unrec. Nt

[Politicalboi]

5. This is BS

This is very serious.

If the tax cuts are not renewed then every taxpayer will see their take-home pay go down.

The lowest income taxpayers will have their tax rate rise 50%

Mess with take home pay and the voters WILL notice.

The rhetoric about the wealthy is just spin, Democrats lack the votes to do anything but extend - or expire the whole enchilada.

Where did you hear this? The only ones that will be paying higher taxes are those making $250,000 or more a year. And that ain't spin.

[awoke_in_2003]

6. bullshit...

bush's "tax cuts" increased my take home pay by about $1.50 a paycheck. Wow, I can now by a cup of coffee at McDonalds every paycheck.

[notadmblnd]

9. +1

[awoke_in_2003]

10. thank you...

I have been through Bush's "tax cuts" and Obama's "tax increases"- my net pay have remained virtually unchanged. It is all a bunch of BS to get people angry.

[notadmblnd]

14. It is. Those damn bush tax cuts didn't even make a dent in most people's paychecks.

Low income people pay no taxes anyway. Hell, they get money just for being poor with children and working. That makes for a very nice refund (I've seen them in the 5k range). The middle people between 45 and 115K may have seen a 10 - 16 dollar increase weekly, but what is that? A trip to a fast food restaurant for two- a night out for a movie?

In all honesty, I think that when taxes are mentioned, people think of their property taxes not their income taxes. And that is a local issue that just doesn't click in people's minds. I think that if the tax cuts are allowd to expire for all- the increase is not going to make any life transforming difference to anyone.

[awoke_in_2003]

15. yep, $20 here or there...

makes no difference in my life. I would gladly pay more money to ensure all children had good meals at school.

[Duer 157099]

7. Fine. Let them expire. Then pass another one.

One that only reduces taxes on the <$250k.

Let's see the repukes vote against THAT bill!! Too bad the dems didn't do this before November.

[Francesca9]

11. How do you plan to pass anything without the votes?

It is a choice to extend - or not.

[Zorra]

16. Maybe they can use the reconciliation process in this situation?

If they were so inclined.

[2Design]

12. same crap they pulled with healthcare - they must want to give repubs this too n/t

[Winterblues]

18. Let them all expire..

We will then have two years to put the LIE to their constant meme that tax cuts are vital for the economy.. Our economy was in a severe recession when Clinton came to Office and he oversaw the "Greatest Economic Expansion in History". Almost immediately after Bush* got his tax cuts the economy plummeted..and continues to do so as long as those cuts are in place.. There are three things one can do to trun around a failing economy or business. Raise prices/taxes (revenues) sell more product and or cut expenses..Almost no business can do just one of those things and survive...You do them in conjuction with each other....And Republicans claim to be the Business Experts...That apparently is as big a LIE as everything else they say..