National Organization for Women (NOW) Urges Senate to Reject Obama Tax Plan

[Better Believe It]

NOW Urges Senate to Reject Obama Tax Plan
Economy Can Be Stimulated Without Undermining Social Security

Statement of NOW President Terry O'Neill

December 10, 2010

The agreement reached by President Obama with Republican leadership, including a two-year extension of tax cuts for the wealthiest in return for a one-year extension of unemployment insurance for families decimated by joblessness, is the wrong way to stimulate our economy.

The payroll tax holiday is particularly troubling for women, who rely more on Social Security than men do. The "holiday" benefits higher income people more than those in the middle or bottom, excludes retirees -- including those forced into early retirement due to joblessness -- and excludes state and local government workers at a time when they are facing a pay freeze. Worst of all, it slashes Social Security's dedicated funding stream -- something Republican leaders and other anti-New Deal forces have wanted to do for decades.

Cutting Social Security's dedicated funding stream threatens its long-term integrity, and breaks faith with the workers who have paid into the system so that it would be there for them when they are no longer working.

The White House says the tax holiday will stimulate the economy, and Social Security will get its lost revenue back from the federal budget. We say: then why not use the federal budget to stimulate the economy in the first place? Proposals exist that would do just that. For example, it would be simple to double the Making Work Pay program. Giving everyone who earns at least $5,000 per year a benefit of $800 would be much more progressive than the payroll tax holiday and would directly stimulate the economy.

There is no need to strike at the heart of Social Security's integrity in the name of stimulus.

The president's package also allows income inequality to continue growing, and will result in more pressure to cut programs that employ and serve women disproportionately, including education, health care, child care, domestic violence prevention and other social programs.

NOW urges the Senate, which is expected to vote on the president's proposal on Saturday, to reject it. Instead, senators should pass a stimulus package that targets relief to where it is needed most -- middle and low-income families, not those earning $1 million, $2 million, or $5 million per year and more.

###

For Immediate Release
Contact: Mai Shiozaki w. 202-628-8669, ext. 116, c. 202-595-4473

http://now.org/press/12-10/12-10.html

[Hello_Kitty]

1. Purists! eom

[Better Believe It]

2. Ya. Those damn women's rights lefties! They want everything now!

Feminist terriorists I say!

[Enthusiast]

29. Exactly. In Limbaugh's words-Feminazis.

Here we are seeing a virtual replay of the health care reform debate. The entire TV discussion is framed against public opinion.

We don't want this fucking tax cut bill. We have spoken and no amount of coercion will make us want it. Why should we have it shoved down our throat?

[daleanime]

42. Because our owners want it...

and as long as we peacefully take it, their going to give it to us.:banghead:

[femrap]

44. BOHICA....

Hey throwing old women under the bus is fun for the owners...they think it's funny.

HRC might have thought twice before sticking it to old women. She always stood strong for women and children. But I can only wonder.

If TPTB want to make old women suffer, they should at least legalize Assisted Suicide and give us a way to leave with dignity.

We have a dem prez, a dem house, and a dem senate.....and this is what we get. I have lost all faith in this gov't.

[daleanime]

48. Our enemy isn't this government....

it's the people who have purchased this government, the oil companies, the banks, the 'offensive' industries(no way am I going to call them defense-sounds too nice for what they do!), american 'death-care', etc...

[Divernan]

50. And don't forget the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision.

opening up the floodgates for corporate campaign contributions.

And here's the thing. Appointment to the Supreme Court is lifetime. The Justices never have to run for re-election or are have to be re-appointed. So theoretically, they are not allowed to receive money or any form of gift or kickback to influence their decisions. Their decision in Citizens United meant that every single elective office is for sale to the Big interests/highest bidders.

[abqmufc]

55. No it is the capitalist democratic model that has failed.

Capitalism breeds greed. Capitalism is the root of all evil. Enjoy it while it lasts as it won't be around much longer...but then neither will we.

[Better Believe It]

56. And if the people you cite have purchased this government, whose government is it?

[femrap]

58. As I have

said all along....he's bought and paid for.

[femrap]

59. As I have

said all along....he's bought and paid for.

[femrap]

60. As I have

said all along....he's bought and paid for.

[suffragette]

3. K&R

[Starry Messenger]

4. k&r

[scarletwoman]

5. Good going, NOW! Excellent statement!

I especially appreciate this part:

The White House says the tax holiday will stimulate the economy, and Social Security will get its lost revenue back from the federal budget. We say: then why not use the federal budget to stimulate the economy in the first place? Proposals exist that would do just that. For example, it would be simple to double the Making Work Pay program. Giving everyone who earns at least $5,000 per year a benefit of $800 would be much more progressive than the payroll tax holiday and would directly stimulate the economy.

Thank you, BBI for posting this! :thumbsup:

sw

[valerief]

39. +666 trillion! nt

[Myrina]

54. OMG, logic? How dare they?!?

Dang educated women anyway (of which I am one!) ..... :bounce:

[egoclothes]

6. Bravo NOW! The Truth speaks.

[corpseratemedia]

7. THANK YOU NOW!!!

[Hannah Bell]

8. kr

[jemsan]

9. Thank you NOW. I will send you some $$ to show you my appreciation.

[laughingliberal]

10. Big K & R! nt

[me b zola]

11. K&R

[madrchsod]

12. obama is burning so many bridges....

who in the hell is going to be left to support him?

[fasttense]

27. He thinks he doesn't need liberals.

Really. Several articles posted here on DU have said the same thing. Obama thinks he can win without liberals. He thinks those independents and center right RepubliCONS will vote him in and support him. Look at the way he scolds liberals and allows his administration to insult liberals (with no apologies) right before a major election.

Insulting liberals was what the bushes did, day in and day out. It energized the liberals in 2008. Obama does less of it but he still insults and scolds us like children. That didn't seem to work for the Democrats in the House in the midterms or the RepubliCONS in 2008 but he thinks it will work for him in 2012.

He should quit pretending to be a liberal and declare himself an independent. I think I would have more respect for him if he came out and declared his true intent.

[Better Believe It]

33. Maybe he really doesn't care about what liberals think if he's moving on to Wall Street in 2013.

He may not run for a second term and I'm sure he'll be rewarded by his friends with a very lucrative law firm position on Wall Street.

[Dinger]

47. Wonder What He Thinks About Diebold?

Maybe he's not worried.

[Enthusiast]

30. Only the extremely gullible.

There are plenty enough of those to win him a nomination.

[Marnie]

41. He thinks he doesn't need the "to be Left."

His only hope for 2012 is for the Republicans to run McCain again. Only then will the old the young and the liberals be welling to be the free labor force he needs for his campaign, much less for his votes.

[Nordmadr]

49. If it weren't for Palin, McCain would have likely won. N/T

[pgodbold]

13. K&R

[cate94]

14. K & R

[midnight]

15. Thank you for posting this info.

"The payroll tax holiday is particularly troubling for women, who rely more on Social Security than men do. The "holiday" benefits higher income people more than those in the middle or bottom, excludes retirees -- including those forced into early retirement due to joblessness -- and excludes state and local government workers at a time when they are facing a pay freeze. Worst of all, it slashes Social Security's dedicated funding stream -- something Republican leaders and other anti-New Deal forces have wanted to do for decades."

[Better Believe It]

16. I was very pleased to read NOW's statement and their emphasis on its danger to Social Security.

[Bluebear]

17. Damn sanctimonious women!

:sarcasm:

[BlueIris]

18. Bravo. There's one group I can still feel good about giving to. nt

[Edweird]

19. Not to worry. Obama has 'the silent majority' and 9996252352% of 'liberals' approve.

K&R

[Skittles]

23. YES

we need to "CHILL OUT" because he's "GOT IT". FUCK.

[DeadEyeDyck]

20. K&R

[avaistheone1]

21. Thank you NOW!

I hope we see more organizations step forward and urge the Senate to reject this tax extension bill as well.

:kick:

[Echotrail]

43. Nothing from SEIU and AFL-CIO yet.

If the unions have been waiting for the right time to call a general strike, the time is now.

As a past union member, I would be with them 110%.

[defendandprotect]

22. Right wing agenda put in place by a Democratic president ... !!

because a Repug wouldn't have been able to do this --

[democracy1st]

24. thats true a total dismantling of the democratic party. He's legitimizing repub policys

[Better Believe It]

34. That's what happened with NAFTA and Wall Street deregulation under President Clinton.

Sometimes they need a Democratic president to implement their economic agenda.

[SammyWinstonJack]

52. I don't see a Democratic President in Obama.

:shrug:

[Bluebear]

64. !

[Le Taz Hot]

25. K & R

I've had my disagreements with NOW over the years but when you're right, you're right.

[pam4water]

26. Reminds me of when all the nobel laureates took out the full page ad in the NYT say President Bush

don't make those tax cuts. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economists%27_statement_opposing_the_Bush_tax_cuts

Just Bush and insert Obama.

[Enthusiast]

31. And one of the great arguments

in favor of the tax cuts at that time was that they were scheduled to expire. LMAO! Now with the deficit at an all time high they (TPTB) claim now is the time for them to be extended. We need those Nobel Laureates to again point out their opposition to this extension.

[democrank]

28. K & R

[myrna minx]

32. K&R n/t

[pleah]

35. K&R

[NorthCarolina]

36. Thank you NOW! Unfortunately, Obama will get his way regardless of who, or how many, speak out. nt

[JDPriestly]

37. Let's say you are a single woman making $70,000 per year.

The 2% you "save" in Social Security taxes will just move into taxable income. And if you are paying a fairly high tax rate, you won't see a whole lot of the 2% of $70,000. Same is true for single men.

And the problem for a couple in their 50s saving for retirement after educating and caring for their children is even worse.

The 2% gain is not worth the blow to Social Security.

Reagan raised the rate for Social Security taxes. It would be irresponsible to lower it now. If they want to return the money to low-income people through additional credits, they should take it out of the general fund.

The Social Security tax cut is just an accounting gimmick to destroy Social Security.

Personally, I am sick of accounting gimmicks. And I hope the rest of the country is too. Remember the sub-prime mortgage accounting gimmick? People thought they were buying houses, but they were really just paying rent, and the rent was scheduled to go way, way up very soon?

It would be better to spend the money that would be spent on the extension of unemployment benefits on a public works program, one that specifically makes low-income jobs available to people out of work.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Marnie]

40. Throw momma from the train

So now Obama has bought into the Republican idea of killing off the elderly to save Social Security.

Time for him to return that Nobel prize. He is no humanitarian. And he is no Democrat.

[bonnieS]

45. support a real women's rights group

go to:

www.now.org/join

[Dinger]

46. K & R

[felix_numinous]

51. K&R

I hope NOW becomes much more proactive, it is time.

[newtothegame]

53. National Organization for Women denounces vetting of possible rape victims...

oh wait. nevermind.

[RufusTFirefly]

57. Sorry, ladies! You can't have your ponies after all!

:sarcasm:

[Better Believe It]

61. Under the bus with them!

[xchrom]

62. Kick

[Jefferson23]

63. A stimulus package they want? Sheesh, they are a pushy bunch, aren't they? n/t