Republicans find themselves in a dilemma. They claim to be the party of tax cuts, and they don’t want you to know that the only tax cuts they really care about are for millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals. They have already earned some very bad PR trying to block the payroll tax cut extension. With the need to renew it fast approaching, they can either keep holding workers hostage trying to blackmail Democrats for something they want, or they can give a tax cut to working people, without getting welfare for the super-rich in return, an anathema to Republicans. It appears that their early attempts at economic terrorism through blackmail are not working.
Senate Democrats have begun preparing a backup plan to extend a tax cut for workers if a special congressional negotiating committee fails to reach quick agreement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Friday.
Reid’s comments, in a conference call with reporters, were seen by some congressional aides as a signal to Republicans that he is prepared to play hard ball on an issue that favors Democrats in an election year.
House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, has struggled to convince rank-and-file members to lay aside their doubts about the stimulative effect of the tax cut. Party leaders fear being punished in the polls if it is allowed to expire at the end of the month.
Word of Reid’s backup plan on the payroll tax cut ignited a sharp response from Boehner, who complained that Democrats had yet to offer any serious proposals in negotiations… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Reuters>
Reid is not talking about what this backup plan may be, but I’m certain it will involve bringing measures to the Senate floor that force Senate Republicans to either approve the payroll tax cut extension, no strings attached, or filibuster to prevent its passage.
Democrats should stand absolutely firm on this issue.
11 Responses to “More Infighting on Payroll Tax Cut Extension”
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From Reuters — “The two sides tangled over the payroll tax cut late in December and could agree only on a two-month extension with a promise of coming up with a bipartisan agreement to keep the break in place through the rest of the year. …Republicans have embraced the idea, but have also tried to attach controversial initiatives, such as TransCanada’s Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline that they say will create jobs.”
The last time the issue came up, the Republican/Teabaggers didn’t try to attach a controversial initiative, they DID attach a controversial iniative, the Keystone XL pipeline permit. Fortunately, Mr Obama shot the nag and put it out of its misery for now at least. But what about this time?
For the Republican/Teabaggers, bipartisan seems to mean “what we want” and has nothing to do with negotiation. Why should Harry Reid come out with a plan? Bring the vote up on the single issue, no attachments, and see what the Republican/Teabaggers do with it. They have only two choices — 1) approve the extension of the payroll tax cut through 2012 and get on with the business of governing; and 2) don’t approve it and take chances with the electorate come November. If Boehner and the kids choose the first option, the people win. If they choose the second, the electorate will have a long memory and may take it out on the Republican/Teabaggers during the election, putting many on the unemployment line, and they still win although perhaps not as much. I think the Republican/Teabaggers have painted themselves into a tight corner with no windows.
I love to see these pictures of little Johnny Boehner crying his eyes out at his own folly!
You clearly understand Republicans, Lynn.
Poor John. He’ll miss a lot of happy hours if this sh*t keeps up.
“Democrats should stand absolutely firm on this issue.”
This $hit never ends… sigh
The hell with poor John. Poor John’s bartender! It will cost him a fortune if this keeps up. 😉
Reid should just put the extension up for a yes or no vote with nothing else attached. Let the American people know that their members of Congress do NOT represent them.
That is what I thought the plan was, and that’s what he’s doing.,
With some good old-fashioned, hard-nosed politics by Democrats, we could be treated to another Repubicon Firing Squad. Stand Firm!
Right on!
No doubt Boehner is still chanting about “the American people,” of whom, outside the 1%, he neither knows nor cares one whit.
I see you know Agent Orange.