House progressives offer budget plan: Tax the rich, end the wars, slash oil subsidies, invest in job

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

House progressives offer budget plan: Tax the rich, end the wars, slash oil subsidies, invest in jobs

By Sahil Kapur


Liberal Dems claim the plan eliminates deficit by 2021

WASHINGTON – As the focus on Capitol Hill shifts to America's long-run fiscal woes, Congressional progressives are one step ahead of the White House and Democratic leaders in offering a counter-proposal to the House GOP approach.

The broad sketch proposes to end the Bush-era tax cuts on high income earners, enact a surtax on millionaires and billionaires, increase the the estate tax and eliminate corporate tax loopholes and subsidies for oil and coal companies. It also aims to create a public health insurance option, end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and invest $1.45 trillion in "job creation," energy, housing and education programs.

The revenue-heavy proposal (PDF) stands in stark contrast to the spending cuts-oriented plan put forth by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) -- and championed by GOP leaders -- that slashes $6 trillion in federal programs (including Medicare and Medicaid) while significantly reducing taxes for wealthy Americans and corporations.

"This budget is transparent, straightforward and realistic about where we are in America right now," Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), co-chair of the progressive caucus, told Raw Story. "The Ryan plan, for all the credit it gets for thinking big, doesn’t reflect the reality of the American economy. It destroys the successful programs that made this country strong, especially Medicare and education, and doesn't even try to explain how it creates jobs. It reflects a faith that making government disappear will somehow create prosperity."

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/11/house-progressives-offer-budget-tax-the-rich-end-the-wars-slash-oil-subsidies-invest-in-jobs/

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. A reasonable plan.

Sans ponies.

[kpete]

3. so

sorry for the ponies
peace, kpete

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Don't be.

We don't need them.

peace, RiF

[Shiver]

16. But if everyone had a pony, we could cut down on oil consumption.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. But what about methane?

:(

[MineralMan]

2. Given the control of the House by the Republicans, I see no

future for this proposal in the House of Representatives. It's good that they're offering a counter-proposal, but I'm afraid it's doomed. Since any budget bill will be originated in the Republican-controlled House, it's a sure thing that none of us are going to like it.

[L0oniX]

11. Indeed ...plan all you want ...it might as well be a dream or an LSD trip.

[protect our future]

19. You can wallow in futility if you wish and guarantee failure.

But I think it's better to keep on trying to do what you know is right.

[L0oniX]

21. Wall Street has already guaranteed failure.

[Cal33]

24. We can make use even of something that's doomed to failure: Make a lot

of noise in as many news media as possible, and let the people know
what's really going on. And keep up the noise-making. The Repubs.
have always done this, and they have always profitted, even with
their lies. Dems will be telling the truth.

[Karmadillo]

29. +1

nt

[Cal33]

30. Unfortunately, Democrats have rarely, if ever, followed up with the advantages

that such a situation has to offer, and have almost always wasted the
opportunity instead of using it. The Republicans, on the other hand,
have always taken full advantage that these situations
had to offer.

[bvar22]

31. I'm glad SOMEBODY in the Democratic Party...

...is willing to STAND for traditional Democratic values.
I wish we could get this kind of Leadership from the White House.



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will stand up for working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone


"By their works you will know them."

[protect our future]

4. Nice plan. My plan is to support those good house dems when reelection time comes.

[MineralMan]

9. And any other Dems, too. Taking back control of the House

needs to be our #1 priority in 2012. It's more important than any other priority. Seriously.

That will take GOTV efforts all across the country. No time to opt out of the election or to just vote without other participation.

There is no option.

[Sherman A1]

13. Agreed

I am pleased to see my Congressman, Wm Lacy Clay listed as a Vice Chair of the caucus and supporting this plan.

This is what is and has been needed all along. A PLAN from which to act upon. It is beyond absurd to simply wait for the other side to come up with something and then try to argue against it. Make them respond to your moves, not the other way around, keep them on the defense and maintain the imitative. You will have to compromise, but make the compromises from your plan, not from theirs.

[Me.]

5. Perfect

+1

[G_j]

6. very good plan

too bad there is no real interest in good plans...

:-(

[FourScore]

7. Now that's what I'm talkin' about! n/t

[CelticThunder]

10. If only. Do you think Obama will support it?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[L. Coyote]

12. Cut military spending in half and tax Big Oil excess profits

[Initech]

14. And tax CEO bonuses and raises 100%.

[FarLeftFist]

15. This is the most 'American' plan I've seen yet...

Here's why: In the spirit of unity and shared sacrifice which this Nation is built on, any sober proposal of reducing the deficit should include tax hikes on the very people who didn't just experience a recession. The millionaires and billionaires heard about a so called recession taking place in America, but didn't experience it, and a slight tax increase on them, progressively of course, wouldn't hurt them while ALSO letting them enjoy in some of the "shared sacrifices" 95% of America has already made. It would simply mean not filling their yachts with premium gasoline and instead having to go with mid range gasoline. That's all. Next, ending the wars is extremely vital because we simply can not afford them anymore, they are doing nothing to keep us safe. At this point I would rather send my tax money directly to the UN for their protection instead. Wars that have no direct consequence on the safety of our citizens should have to be funded and paid for. Rolling back the Reagan and Bush tax cuts is more than necessary, we must also reform the tax code and close corporate loopholes. They should be playing by our rules, not the other way around. Also, investing in American jobs, infrastructure, and education is probably the greatest thing we could do as a Nation, it is a win/win situation that not only benefits our citizens and our future, but our entire society as a whole. No one will ever look back and say "Damn I wish we never spent that money on making society a better place to live for all". NEVER. Finally, I don't get how these idiot republicans can't see the benefit of the middle class having more money, earning higher wages, and having a secure retirement, this directly benefits EVERYONE, even the super wealthy whose products would be more in demand if the middle class has more money to spend. No one will ever look back and say "Gee, I wish we didn't give the poor and middle class a way out of poverty, all they do is spend spend spend and stimulate our economy". The answer is right in front of our faces.

[librechik]

18. It would work great, but watch Obamaco run away from it as fast as they can

He isn't on our side. He's on the side of Big Money Interests. We made a mistake.

[pampango]

20. Great plan. See if progressives can pull the party to the left with it, as well as the tea party

uses Ryan's plan to pull everyone further to the right.

[Solomon]

22. That's a great looking platform.

[Scuba]

23. I thought I was going to be linked to an article by the Onion. Go Dems!!! n/t

[Atman]

25. Remember the FACTS; Democrats have a proven track record of deficit reduction.

Republicans have just the opposite...a proven track record of ballooning debt. This current debt is still largely theirs, left for Obama like a flaming bag of dog turds on the front porch.

[xchrom]

26. Kick

[socialist_n_TN]

27. Nice. We all need to pitch this as much as possible.........

Who cares if it doesn't get enacted right away. It still needs to be supported and reported.

[Karmadillo]

28. Waiting for Obama? Mr. Obama told me to tell you he won't support this progressive budget but surely

the next one.