It is very simple, just pass the sub $250,000 tax cut renewal during the lame duck session

[virtualobserver]

Congressmen and Senators are elected for their entire 2 year and 6 year terms.

Pass the middle class tax cuts, then let the Republicans worry about the rich.

[subterranean]

1. They'll have to change the filibuster rule to do that.

Otherwise, they need 60 votes in the Senate, and they won't get any from Republicans.

[virtualobserver]

3. That should be their top priority anyway,better to do it now, than when they have only 53 Senators

Even if they didn't change the filibuster rule, they can still force the Republicans to filibuster a tax for the middle class, and bash the living hell out of them for doing it.

[katty]

18. yup-geezus just do it already

[rgbecker]

8. Can you say "reconciliation"?

That's what Bush did to get the tax cut done in the first place.

In fact, its what the Democrats did to get Health care reform.

You gotta do, what you gotta do.

[subterranean]

13. They can't use reconciliation.

They already used it for the health care reform fixes, and according to the rules they can't use it more than once a year. I was thinking the House could pass the bill during this session, then the Dems in the Senate could try to pass it with reconciliation next year. I'm not sure if that's doable, though.

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. Let 'em filibuster tax cuts.

While we're at it, attach a rider to the bill saying that bestiality is bad.

In 2012, I want to beat them over the head for voting against tax cuts and for pig fuckers.

[Yo_Mama]

2. It should be that simple

The fact that it isn't shows that quite a few in the current Congress really want to extend tax cuts for the wealthier people. Otherwise this would already have been done.

[northernlights]

17. Exactly. If they wanted it done, it would be done.

Ergo, they do not want it done. :shrug:

[stray cat]

4. Just let the GOP block a tax cut for working Americans - let all the tax cuts expire

[virtualobserver]

7. if you let it expire, then the republicans will redo the entire cut....

and then Democrats will be the ones blocking it.

[toddwv]

5. Propose the middle-class tax cut renewal

Let the Republicans filibuster that. It's time to start playing hardball unless we want the country to slip back to where it was after the Republicans nearly wrecked it.

[Ozymanithrax]

6. The GOP can filibuster the bill. They have the power in the lame duck to do that.

So it isn't that simple.

[peace13]

9. I say let them all expire.

Expire the way * 'wanted' them to. 90% of the lower income folks claim to not have received a cut so how can they be mad about anything. When the rethugs can say why we should borrow so that the top 2% can rake in the loan is I will listen. It is an embarrassment to have to talk about it.

[NC_Nurse]

10. They should let them filibuster it. Hang it on THEM. Then just let all of the cuts expire.

[rgbecker]

11. OP is right on. Show that Democrats are for tax cuts for the middle class.

Let the Republicans vote to stop it and let the Republicans bring a tax cut
just for the rich next January.

Democrats could pass a sub $250,000 tax cut in a week using reconciliation.
But they have to do it now, while they have the house.

This is a real test to see if the Democrats have any balls left.

[TBF]

16. They should do it - but it seems the president is in a conciliatory mood

I don't think we'll see it - they're going to extend it year by year until the Repubs take over in 2012. That's not what should happen, but that's my best guess given the political climate right now. We will hear republicans campaigning for 2012 on tax breaks that "they" pushed through ...

[stopbush]

12. Oh, I think Harry Reid should bring every one of the 400+ bills that the House passed

- and that the Senate Rs kept from coming up for a vote in the Senate by threatening a filibuster - to the floor of the Senate in this lame duck session, and demand an up-or-down vote on every one of them.

When - not, if - the Rs block them, then Reid should simply say, "you guys are always saying that elections have consequences, and we haven't voted on any of these bills that were the consequence of the 2008 election. This is unfinished business - the people's business. If you refuse to allow votes on these bills, the consequence will be that I will return the favor in the next Congress and not allow any bills passed in the new House to come to the floor of the Senate."

[BzaDem]

15. Reid isn't going to let any bill from the House in 2011 he doesn't like come to the floor anyway.

That's a dumb threat.

[BzaDem]

14. They'll just filibuster until Jan, then pass a bill extending them all, knowing that if Obama vetoes

and we subtract 4 trillion out of the economy right now, Obama's re-election chances start to look doubtful (among many other problems).

I think the best we can hope for at this point (given the elections) is a bill extending all the cuts for 2 years (after which they could all expire). I hope the Republicans cave, but I doubt they will.

[Kip Humphrey]

19. Watch them lower the filibuster threshold to 55 instead.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[thereismore]

20. Same difference. nt

[Major Hogwash]

21. Eggs-actly!! Problem solved!

Couldn't have said it better myself.
I don't see what the big brouhaha is all about.