GOP sen.: W may raise taxes to save Soc Sec

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/280784p-240475c.html

President Bush is so worried about Social Security, he'd back raising taxes and cutting benefits to ensure the program's solvency, a leading Republican said yesterday.

Nothing is off the bargaining table, promised Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

"The answer is yes," Grassley replied on NBC's "Meet the Press," on whether Bush would sign a reform bill that upped taxes and cut benefits if it included private investment accounts. "And not only that, but, listen, the alternative of doing nothing is also a benefit cut."

Bush knows that "personal accounts will not solve the problem," Grassley said, adding that "there are 100 moving parts" to Social Security reform.

[illflem]

1. But not increase them for the upper echelon

because all that money they save trickles down to build new plants in Asia

[VegasWolf]

2. On what is left of the middle class, the poor don't have anything and

the neocons believe that god has blessed and entitled the rich,
so they are exempt.

[sadiesworld]

3. Here we go again.

Raising SS taxes on the middle classes while cutting income and inheritance taxes for the wealthy. Reagan redux.

Yeah freepers, you're dumbshits.

[WindRavenX]

4. This is so much worse than Reagan....

If * raises taxes, will there be a shit storm of outrage?
Probably not.

[sadiesworld]

6. Well, Reagan cut the top income bracket in half

and doubled the SS tax, so it was pretty bad. Of course, pulling this ruse on the sheeple for a SECOND time IS fairly atonishing.

[VegasWolf]

9. No! because Rove has convinced the dumb ass republicans that

the rich deserve their tax cuts like everyone else. and
they are too STUPID to realize the proportional effects
the tax is having. I have talked to so many bushbots
that say what is wrong with the wealthy getting huge tax cuts,
they are people too. Yea, people that look down their long snouts
at you.

[yorkiemommie1]

18. that's what my husband the freeper tells me

the rich deserve it. we don't.

and will he vote for arnie who is fixing to cut my retirement even as we speak? yes!

[nodictators]

30. Rich CEOs are the ones who want to destroy Social Security

Why do you think corporations are putting up $200 million+ to privatize SS with "personal accounts?"

What the hell is the National Association of Manufacturers doing in the SS debate?

Of course, if they kill SS they can pocket the FICA tax, which is really paid by the employees.

[Squeech]

5. No

They're bullshitting Grassley. They'd rather pull their own arms out of their sockets than raise taxes.

The next four years depend entirely on the moderate Republicans-- whether they get tired of being gamed by the real criminals. Grassley is one to watch.

[sadiesworld]

8. They'll raise the payroll tax in a NY minute.

The republicans don't give a rat's ass about people making under $90K a year. If they think they can get reelected (or close enough for vote theft) they'll do it.

[RobertSeattle]

10. My suggestion - shift the tax 30K

Make the first 30K of SS taxable income SS tax free, then tax it from 30K to say 200K.

[sadiesworld]

14. We don't have a Social Security problem.

We have a debt problem. Dems just need to stand pat on refusing to make the income tax cuts (for the wealthy) permanent.

[RobertSeattle]

19. Agreed

What I don't understand why it's not patently obvious to the citizenry that Bush's tax cuts that were sold as "essential for stimulating the economy" (or similar spin) were a complete disaster for the US Budget.

So using Bush's own logic (We should get rid of Programs that don't work) - the tax cuts should be rescinded.

[bunkerbuster1]

27. Hell yeah. And as for standing pat, I'll quote James Wolcott here:

Dems should resist the temptation to be statesmenlike and bail out Bush should he stumble, the way they shamefully rescued Reagan in his second term.

Bipartisanship has gotten Democrats nowhere for four years, has earned them nothing more than a fine spittle of contempt falling like a constant drizzle.

[girl gone mad]

41. Dems went along with Reagan's payroll tax hike..

because it was supposed to be a long term fix for Social Security. Look where that got us.

Like Bush said, we won't get fooled again.

[VegasWolf]

34. That would be just wrong for the neocons. If god liked the poor

he would have made them wealthy like fearless lost leader.

[Karmadillo]

7. Bush is "so worried about Social Security" because it appears deep-sixing

it isn't going to be as easy as he thought.

[aikido15]

11. He didn't count on the alternative media...

making so much noise the MSM had to pick it up!

[truthisfreedom]

12. hah. i've been suspecting this all along... he wanted to raise taxes and

so he invented an excuse... he is breaking social security so he can "fix" it by raising taxes. and whose taxes will he raise? the poor and middle class. watch him do it.

[MidwestTransplant]

13. Just keep you eye on the prize ther George. Gotta end Social Security

and will make any compromise to do so.

[expatriot]

15. raiding trust fund to pay for wealth tax cuts... raising taxes for workers

F--- you Bush.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. PAY MORE GET LESS!

POS REPUKES! :argh:

[Emboldened Chimp]

17. I hope he does raise taxes....

...that would mean his party will get creamed in '06. It would be the core issue that could allow us to regain the House (which, of course, puts us on the course to impeachment...)

[yinkaafrica]

22. No, they will still win

Wait and see. There is no cause and effect.
Expect the pukes to be in power permanently.

[Emboldened Chimp]

24. I disagree---this is what helped bring down Poppy...

...and it'll damage the pukes far worse than anything else could. Raising taxes is sacrilege in the country.

[bunkerbuster1]

29. Absotively. And we can afford to offer a progressive alternative that'll

get shot down by the reThugs.

I've been thinking--it's the cautious optimist in me--that W's already ruing the day that he opened his fat trap about privatizing SS relatively late in the campaign, and then going forward with it once re-elected.

[Carolab]

43. A bit pessimistic, aren't you? n/t

[matcom]

20. right. another tax increase FOR THE POOR!!

:argh:

[cthrumatrix]

21. you could see this coming a mile away.... this was the plan.

[yinkaafrica]

23. yep

heaven help us

[LynnTheDem]

25. "Read my lips!"

rotflmao!!!

[CountAllVotes]

28. yeah just like what * said about Social Security during the election

He said he wouldn't mess with Social Security there it and the 1st day of January, first item on the agenda.

You cannot believe a thing * says I am convinced.

If he raises taxes, he needs to not renew those tax cuts for the rich as well! They should also have to pay their fair share and the income level "cap" must be raised!

Of course considering we have a war without end, I think we rather screwed anyway no matter what any of these power hungry greed mongers do. :(

:kick:

[LinuxInsurgent]

26. now wouldn't that be sweet irony

"read my lips..no new taxes"...part deux..

hahahahahah...welcome to the world of rational economics, Bush. Government policies cost money...and taxes ARE a rational necessity...provided the tax dollars are not squandered on warfare and other stupidities.

If we didn't focus our money on warfare and preparing for war...we could have QUITE the social welfare system and money to balance our budget.

How is that countries in Europe do much better with less of a budget?

Only one explanation...we are wasteful and inefficient..and prioritize war and death over domestic concerns.

When we cross that barrier...the USA will be a much better place.

[Skittles]

31. LOL - bush is "worried" about Social Security

what a load of horse shit

[cosmicdot]

32. there's a bargaining table?

Grassley with daily talking points in hand ... surprised he gives his lips time off from being planted to relay them ... another corporate america darling (being polite) ... these liars need to be replaced ...

Grassley is, also, author of the 2001 Bankruptcy Bill which is being dusted off ... http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:SN00420:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3113390

and, the author of the Senate-passed Class Action S.5 bill
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN5:

The top industries supporting Chuck Grassley are:

1 Health Professionals $400,399
2 Insurance $384,919
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Top Contributors
1 DCI Group $49,800 DCI Group is a full-service public and government affairs firm comprised of more than 150 veterans of federal and state politics and public policy. We offer a full suite of public affairs services, including:
Corporate Grassroots Campaigns
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2003-2004 PAC Contributions: $2,251,133 (92% comes from Business)
Based on data released by the FEC on Wednesday, December 15, 2004.

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Personal Finances
http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/pfd2003/N00001758_2003.pdf

source: opensecrets.org
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00001758&cycle=2004

[Bake]

33. Raise taxes to pay Wall Street's commissions.

PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE let him try it!! PLEASE!! PLEASE!!!

He really wants to fuck the Puke Party into oblivion! Not only does he want to destroy the THIRD RAIL, he wants to raise taxes to do it.

That would be sooooooooooo sweet. I hope he tries it. I really do.

Bake

[Mountainman]

35. Raise our taxes, cut our benefits and give our money to the stock brokers

Hey is that another trifecta?

[Disturbed]

36. Taxes for the Wealthy making over $300 per yr.?

It is pointless according to the Silverspoon Sociopath.

"I'll give you one other thought. Let me just leave you with one other thought about taxing the rich. You know how that works. A lot of the rich are able to get accountants, so they don't -- they're able to dodge. You've seen it before. We're going to tax the rich, and then they figure out how not to get taxed. So guess who ends up paying? You do. And we're not going to let him do it to us. We're not going to let him wreck that economy by running up our taxes. "

[leesa]

37. The second prong of the attack against the American middle class

[Colorado Blue]

38. Things are getting beyond terrible to the point where they

are funny.

Thank heavens for DU!

[depakid]

39. Nothing is off of the bargaining table except rationality

and honesty.

Bush and the Republicans are just as determined to (at least) carve out a nice chunk of social security to give to Wall Street as they were to carve out a chunk of medicare and throw it to the pharmaceutical industry.

The media will continue to LIE about it- playing to people's (especially young, ignorant people's) greed, while whistling all the way to the bank.

[Pachamama]

40. It's a ploy...or atleast a way out for * to explain to the rich why he's

raising taxes on them.....

I don't trust any of these press announcements from these people...there is ALWAYS a hidden agenda.....

[cthrumatrix]

44. I'm thinking a "valued added tax" which hurts the poor & middle income

more on a percentage basis.

[Pachamama]

46. Your right - Far more likely * would tax the Poor & Middle Class...

How foolish and misguided for me to actually think he'd hurt his rich "base"....

:grr:

[girl gone mad]

42. He's issuing an ultimatum.

"Support my privatization scheme or else I'n going to raise your taxes."

[rodeodance]

45. drats!