Couldn't middle class tax cut be passed by reconciliation?

[WI_DEM]

without the tax cuts for the rich? Wasn't that how Bush passed his tax cuts? Why can't the lame duck session of this congress take this up and the house extend that middle class tax cuts and then the senate (if the GOPers will threaten a fillibuster) pass the middle class tax cut extensions without the tax cuts for the rich by reconciliation. The Bush tax cuts will then expire on January 1?

Here, we wanted to check Grayson's statement that reconciliation was used "for tax cuts for the rich twice under Bush."

We checked with Grayson's staff, and they said he was referring to the large tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003. We checked the votes, and both were passed by reconciliation.

http://politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/mar/04/alan-grayson/bush-tax-cuts-were-passed-reconciliations-50-votes/

[phleshdef]

1. Reconciliation can only be used once per year.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. I just heard that on the radio for the first time today. nt

[grumgrum]

5. Even if that weren't the case...we all know they would have found another Excuse.

[Dr Fate]

9. I agree. I see more excuses on this site than just about anything else.

It's crazy, but if we had as many "ways to fight" as we had excuses, we would not need so many excuses!

[DrToast]

7. We didn't use it this year. We used it last year.

The fiscal year ends in September.

[phleshdef]

8. My understanding is its once per calendar year, meaning it cant be used again in 2010.

I can't find any sources that use the language "once per fiscal year". If you have some, feel free to share it.

[DrToast]

10. I read it here

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/15/920713/-Is-there-a-way-to-pass-limited-tax-cut-extensions-Yes.

David Waldman is very up to date on these issues.

[phleshdef]

11. Oh ok. So as long as it concerns next years budget cycle, which this would.

[discopants]

13. what bill this year was passed by reconcilliation?

[phleshdef]

14. The second part of the healthcare bill that also reformed student loans.

But I was incorrect anyway, as a poster above pointed out. These tax changes would apply to fiscal year 2011 and so reconciliation could actually be used.

[DrToast]

2. Possibly, but it's complicated

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/11/15/920713/-Is-there-a-way-to-pass-limited-tax-cut-extensions-Yes.

[TheKentuckian]

3. They cravenly omitted reconciliation instructions out of the budget knowing they intended to punt

[Igel]

6. What budget?

The "budget" was a blip, stating just what spending levels were.

It flunked the requirements to even be a budget resolution, one of those things that kind-of/sort-of sketches what they'd like to see the final budget levels for broad categories of spending to be. Those run to many pages. Spending in line with the budget resolution is considered to have been not objected to, for the most part. That makes shoving a measure into the reconciliation straitjacket a lot easier.

The best we got was a paragraph. Not a particularly large paragraph.

Instead we get continuing budget resolutions, things that basically say "keep the levels as they are unless we make an exception later." (Sorry. I like budgets. I've drawn up budgets. I've debated budgets. I've implemented budgets. I've fumed at budgets I didn't like. I've raked managers over the coals for not sticking to budgets they didn't like. No budget, no way to enforce spending, no way you can be called irresponsible--but also no valid basis on which to claim you've been responsible. Budgets are two-edged swords, both edges good.)

[karynnj]

12. Not directly because you have to show it cuts the budget

A diary on Daily Kos suggested a convoluted way to do so - that would cause DU to go into more rage than anything else before it was complete.

The idea - extend ALL the tax cuts in a regular vote (no problem this is what the Republicans want.) Then under reconciliation, have a new bill that is a tax increase equal to the extension for over $250,000. This SAVES $700 million - so it can be under reconciliation.

MHO - this would never fly.

It was AFTER the 2001 and 2003 actions that the rule that it has to help the budget was passed.

(the 2003 one was not just under reconciliation - Dick Cheney ha to break a tie.

[harun]

15. They better NOT try that. This place would go nu-que-lar, because they would find

a way to blow the reconciliation and we would be left with the full tax cuts.

I guess if Obama promised to veto the cuts if something got screwed up it might work. Better they find a more sound method.

[karynnj]

16. I quite agree with you

There would be sooo many Republicans moaning about being tricked - it would make their faux outrage that we did some tweaking of the HCR under reconciliation look calm and respectful in comparison.

Not to mention, I think this place would go ne-que-lar (I like your transliteration) immediately - not knowing, not wanting to hear and not caring that there was a planned phase 2.