Democrats debate whether to repeal all or just some of Bush's tax cuts

[Nambe]

PHILADELPHIA (AP)

The Democratic presidential hopefuls sparred over how to deal with President Bush's tax cuts Monday night, one of the stickiest issues facing the candidates in next year's election.

All nine candidates want to eliminate at least some of Bush's cuts. But two philosophies have emerged: One camp says all the cuts should be repealed to pay for health care and other programs; the other side says such a broad tax increase would be bad for Democrats. --

Kerry, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun said they would target any tax increases to the wealthy. They say they would keep tax cuts that are helping the middle class, such as the child tax credit and relief for married couples.

Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and activist Al Sharpton said the first step to repairing the economy would be to repeal Bush's tax cuts. --

Seven of the nine Democratic presidential candidates came to Philadelphia to appear at the town hall meeting sponsored by Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association, a union representing 150,000 workers in the United States and Canada. --

[RC]

1. What's to debat?

Repeal them all. We need the money to repair the damage we did to outselves and the world.

[aquart]

2. Agreed. All.

Wasn't that easy?

[AfricanDonkey]

5. and increase taxes on the middle class?

no thanks. I have diapers and baby formula to buy thank you very much.

[wellst0nev0ter]

8. The Middle Class Tax Burden Has Increased Thanks To The Tax Giveaway

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A10323-2003Jun3¬Found=true

And no, it doesn't mean you are going to pay less taxes - at least in the near future. The costs of the war, plus the costs of a growing and aging population will demand more government spending. Or, if you like, we can eliminate Social Security or Medicare and deal with the shitstorm that will come.

[AfricanDonkey]

9. yea but seriously, PLEASE do not take way the child tax credit

Its something I can count on, regardless of who wins the congress or presidency.

[dawg]

17. I'm with you, AfricanDonkey.

If we attempt to repeal the child tax credit we will go down in flames.

[Drifter]

18. You must have the the tax cuts mixed up ...

the tax cuts that are being discussed here, are the ones that were given to people (and corporations) that need them the least. AWOL's tax cuts did nothing but clear out the treasury to his political donors, while placing the burden on the middle class.

Repealing the Tax cuts would put the burdon back on the people (corporations) that can more afford it, while relieving the middle-class, and those below them on the scale.

Cheers
Drifter

Edit: spelling

[leftyandproud]

12. all..NO compromises

the fact that it will piss off the pukes is reason enough to do it

[gristy]

3. keep the ones meant for the bottom 25%

like the child tax credit. These were the cuts meant to placate the masses as the * plutocracy gave ITSELF its big fat kickback.

Keep those, and let's get the tax rates increased on THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD THEM AND HAVE BENEFITED THE MOST FROM WHAT THEIR COUNTRY HAS PROVIDED THEM.

I am tired of our country being by the rich and for the rich. It will be the end of us all.

[Demobrat]

4. I've decided to stop thinking.

Whatever Dr. Dean says is automatically my opinion.

[AnAmerican]

6. Um....OK

:eyes:

[gristy]

7. Now, that's FUNNY!

LOL. I like Dean too, btw.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Both arguments make sense to me.

Both arguments make sense to me. I wouldn't choose one of the candidates based solely on this issue.

Politically, however, I would choose the Kerry, Lieberman, Kucinich, Moseley-Braun side of the argument. Do we want Bush arguing for lower taxes on working people, while our nominee argues to raise them?

[lkinsale]

11. Graham proposes payroll tax holiday for fair tax relief

Reverse the Bush Fiscal Priorities

Tax Fairness:

* Repeal the Bush dividends and capital gains tax cuts.

* Stop the phase-out of the estate tax at its 2009 level with an exemption of $3.5 million ($7 million for couples), and extend it permanently.

* Reset the top rate at 38.6 percent - lower than the rate when President Clinton left office -- and create a "Millionaire's Bracket" at 40%

* Step up enforcement efforts to close the gap between taxes legally due and those actually being collected, which the Internal Revenue Service estimates at $30 billion a year.

* Repeal the tax advantages -- and impose new penalties -- for individuals and corporations who transfer assets offshore or renounce US citizenship to escape taxation.

Economic Stimulus For All:

* If the economy is still in recession in 2005, put more money into the hands of working Americans who are likely to spend it by taking the first $10,000 of earned income of every American out of taxation under the payroll tax.

* Permanently extend AMT relief for individuals and families

* Extend marriage penalty repeal.

* Extend and maintain the child credit at its highest level of $1000 per child.

* An income tax deduction for up to the full cost of purchasing of long-term care insurance and a caregiver tax credit that phases in after four years to $3000 for taxpayers with long-term care needs.

* Opportunity for All education & training credit will provide nearly $40 billion a year in tax relief to middle class families for advanced education and job training.

http://www.grahamforpresident.com/economic_plan/exec_summ4.html

********

Blog Graham! Join the original (b)logger at his new campaign blog.

Contribute to Graham For President (Enter "Laura Kinsale" as your BobCat if you want to give me credit toward my pledge to raise 1k for Bob.)

[Code_Name_D]

13. This is why you do not try to "soften up" bad law.

A classic DLC dem strategy to is to sprinkle a little sugar on the GOP's shit, then calm part of the "by-partisan" credit. These republican lights were dancing in the streets when that bill passed, and were oh so quick to tout how they stood up to the GOP by a) not letting them get every thing they want, and b) slipping in a few of their own pet projects that they want to sing about come campaign time.

The child tax credit was one of the DLC's efforts to get a feather in their cap.

But here we see it backfire. AGAIN! Every thing they did to make these tax cuts more palatable, now works against the Democrats. It doesn’t mater what they do now, any attempt to attack the tax cuts now will be labeled as politics. And the only thing worse than the echo chamber spreading lies, is when the echo chamber happens to repeat the truth. This IS about politics as the DLC again tries to flip flop its position.

The imperative is clear. The whole thing must be repealed. This tax law will have the same effect as dropping the moon on north America. Failure to repeal this means dooming America to certain economic and inescapable collapse. There is no debate on this because there is no choice. But the dummy DLC still think that can dive in the shit and pop out with roses in their cheeks.

So now the DLC only wants to repeal parts of it. Oh please. These guys are just gluttons for punishment. How the fucking hell are they going to do that? Oh they may try, but you watch as they hand the GOP even MORE concessions in order to win yet another peric victory. But the stupid heads of the DLC refuse to listen.

That is why I say that even before we can even challenged the GOP, we must crush their first line of defense, the DLC.

[moondust]

14. Trash them all and reconsider later

after all the wars and Homeland Security and education and everything else are paid for and there is a surplus again.

[Yentatelaventa]

15. Keep the middle class and lower tax cuts

Raise the millionaire rates a bit.

[Lost4words]

16. reverse everything this junta has done. everything! n/t