White House ramps up pressure on Boehner over Bush tax cuts

[babylonsister]

Boxing them in?

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/118287-white-house-ramps-up-pressure-on-boehner-over-taxes

White House ramps up pressure on Boehner over Bush tax cuts
By Michael O'Brien - 09/13/10 07:38 AM ET


White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday appeared on three morning news shows to highlight House GOP Leader John Boehner's (Ohio) Sunday comment that he could agree to phase out tax cuts for wealthier taxpayers.

"I hope that Congressman Boehner's comments suggest a willingness to agree with the president," Gibbs said on CBS.


snip//


Gibbs said the White House would be looking to Boehner, and the top Senate Republican, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), to see how they cooperate in the tax debate, if at all.

"I think we're going to have to see what Congressman Boehner does and says today. We'll have to see what Mitch McConnell does and says over in the Senate today," Gibbs said on ABC. "I think Congressman Boehner was fairly clear in outlining a position that the president made last week."

Extending the tax cuts for the middle class would add about $3 trillion to the deficit. In his interview on ABC, Gibbs indicated the White House would not pay for the tax cuts with other spending cuts or tax increases.

But he said the nation could not afford the $700 billion cost of extending the tax cuts for wealthier taxpayers.

"We understand in times of uncertainty, we can't raise taxes on the middle class. We're going to follow through with that," Gibbs said. "We think on top of that, though, there's no need to borrow an extra $700 billion to give tax cuts to those who make more than $1 million a year."

[flpoljunkie]

1. Yet MSNBC's Richard Wolffe said today nothing would happen--just political posturing on both sides

Why on earth would the Democrats not put permanent extension of the Bush tax cuts for the middle class up for a vote as soon as possible and call their bluff!!! Grrrrrrrrr!

[babylonsister]

3. I recently read this vote won't even happen until after the

midterms (sorry, can't remember where I saw that). So Wolffe could be right, but this could still be important in swaying minds depending on which way the rethugs go.

[flpoljunkie]

6. What better way to energize Dems than to call R's bluff, have a vote on middle class tax cut

extension--minus the Bush tax cuts for the top 2%. Show us whose side you are on, Democrats!

We know you know that less than 2% of small business would be affected by not renewing the Bush tax tax for the top 2%. You can run, Conservadems, but you cannot hide!

[flpoljunkie]

2. And now, from MSNBC: Has "Boehner taken the wind out of the Democrats sails?'

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Richard Wolffe on again!

[Beartracks]

4. Nice summation in this quote:

"There's no need to borrow an extra $700 billion to give tax cuts to those who make more than $1 million a year."

Right on.

Describing this situation as the country needing to borrow the money to make the tax cuts continue is, after all, an appropriate and accurate description. This could also be rephrased as: "There's no need for the country to bail out those who do not need to be bailed out."

--------------------------------

[flpoljunkie]

5. Surprise, surprise. Lieberman breaks with White House, says Bush tax cut for top 2% must be renewed

I knew it!