Labor big: White House, Dem leaders seriously mulling middle class tax cut vote

[ProSense]

Labor big: White House, Dem leaders seriously mulling middle class tax cut vote

By Greg Sargent

This is encouraging: One of the most powerful labor leaders in the country just said that he's in direct talks with the White House and Dem leaders about throwing down the gauntlet and holding a vote just on extending the middle class tax cuts -- and that all parties involved are seriously considering it.

AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka told reporters moments ago on a conference call that he's been aggressively lobbying the White House and Dem Congressional leaders to hold such a vote. Liberals are pushing for this course of action -- rather than a fake "compromise" on extending all the Bush tax cuts temporarily -- because it would represent a genuinely confrontational approach, forcing Republicans to choose between supporting Obama's tax cut plan and opposing a tax cut for the middle class.

Asked if he had been discussing this vote with the White House and Dem leaders and whether he'd received indications it's a real possibility, Trumka said "Yes" to both.

<...>

Trumka added that continuing the tax cuts for high end earners, even temporarily, is a non-starter.

"It's absolutely insane that in these tough economic times, some people want to continue the George Bush tax giveaway for millionaires," Trumka continued. "It doesn't create jobs. It's bad policy and it's bad for the economy."

Trumka, in a formulation that just might stick, labeled an extension of the high-end cuts "Tarp Two."

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[Parker CA]

1. Do it! Hold those SOB's accountable. Make them vote against a middle-class cut. Kick and Rec!

[thereismore]

2. Yes, do it!!! Do it! nt

[Andy823]

3. It's about time!

They should have done this "BEFORE" the elections. Sure some of the same blue dogs would have lost their seats, but I think some of the others in the house, and senate, may have won their seats! Boehner is already on record saying the "WOULD" vote for a middle class tax cut if that was ll they could get, hold him to it and make everyone vote yes or no to helping those who really need it! This should be a no brainer and something that will show the people who vote democrats into office that they are being looked out for instead of the rich and the corporations.

[Dr Fate]

10. It's about time that a union rep claims that DEMS "mulled" something over?

All they are doing is "mulling it over."

For all we know, they are not even serious about it. They "mulled over" the public option too.

Shouldnt we save our shouts of "It's about time!" for when/if this actaully happens?

Less mulling, more doing is all I am asking for. Apologies to anyone who thinks that expectation is a form of "DEM bashing."

[MannyGoldstein]

4. TARP 2 - I love it!

But the WH will never go for it because they maintain that TARP was excellent.

[tridim]

5. Good, maybe now the BS "Sky is falling!!!11" post can be removed from the top of "greatest"

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Nah - they won't actually do this

But it's a nice thought.

[Dr Fate]

9. Do you mean DEM leaders wont actually "do this" ie go with this strategy...

...or do you mean that many DUers wont beleive that DEMS are going to use this tactic until they see it being used?

I could see you being correct in both cases.

It's being "mulled over"- it has not yet been implemented as a strategy. This could be exciting, but it is not all that exciting yet.

[MannyGoldstein]

19. I meant the former, but both are true.

Never happen.

[Dr Fate]

22. So certain "sky is falling" DUers just might be correct, by your own admission.

Time will tell, as it always does here at DU.

I have no idea what thread you guys are talking about, BTW. Is someone saying that Obama might cave on something? Gee, what a chicken little.

[Dr Fate]

8. Let's wait until some elected DEMS are on TV fighting tooth & nail for this...

...so far we have a Union rep saying that it is being "mulled over."

Great news, if true.

[Dr Fate]

7. What is there to "mull." I'd love less mulling & more doing. (Thread Recommended)

We will agree that this could be good news, assuming that the elected DEMS follow through. I'm not sure they will.

This is a great strategy to advance a Liberal economic agenda and to expose what is wrong with conservative/centrist economic policy.

Forcing the GOP & Centrists to take a stand in favor of middle class tax cuts? Great idea if you are Liberal. My guess is that elected centrists will not be fighting too hard for this idea. I'd love to see it and be proved wrong.

We need to see elected DEMS and Obama himself touting this and fighting tooth & nail for this, not just some Union guy confirming that it is being "mulled over." Agreed?

[flpoljunkie]

11. Agree with Greg's conclusion, as well...

At a minimum there's heavy pressure on Dems to do this, and it's clear that anything short of this approach will be labeled a big cave.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/11/labor_big_white_house_dem_lead.html

[Dr Fate]

12. Funny to think that DEMS have to be "pressured" or forced into doing this.

You would think that they would want to do this on their own.

Not only is it the right thing to do, it might even force a few hands and ultimately work.

Liberals certainly dont need "heavy pressure" to cause them to support this- apparently Obama and centrists do?

Why is that we have to put "heavy pressure" on the centrists who control our party to make them follow a Liberal strategy as opposed to GOP frame?

Maybe they agree with one more than the other?

Time will tell, like it always does around here.

[DrToast]

14. Hey, Obama said he wants to be held accountable

I support the Democrats, but I'll definitely criticize/pressure them when it's warranted.

[DrToast]

13. That would be a great. It's really a no-brainer.*

*

[Dr Fate]

16. If you are Liberal. Not so if you are centrist who agrees with the GOP.

It's the "centrists" who need to do some "soul searching" on whether to disagree with the GOP, not most Liberal DEMS.

And dont forget- the "centrists" are still calling the shots as far as anyone can tell.

If it is simple, easy to understand, aggressive and creative as to fighting and exposing conservatives, you can almost always be sure that elected centrists will find a problem with it.

[kjackson227]

15. I don't mind paying a few hundred dollars more in taxes...

in order to eliminate the cash cow the uber rich will get. Anyway, it's the right thing to do.

[Dr Fate]

17. If I read the article right, the proposed strategy is that the we would keep our tax cuts...

...or at least force the GOP to be the ones who specifically opposed them.

For my money, the right thing to do is to engineer a strategy where the middle class keep their tax cuts and to let the ones for the Koch Brothers expire. If DEMS go with a strategy like the one in the OP, I'll support it.

[ProSense]

18. Republicans must be sensing that they're not going to get what they want

Time to hold umemployment benefits hostage:

<...>

A senior Republican in the House of Representatives said he could back extending jobless benefits, favored by Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in exchange for an extension of all Bush-era tax cuts, including for the wealthiest groups.

<...>

Democrats are politically weakened following the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives and gains in the Senate in the November 2 congressional elections.

<...>

The leader of the Republicans' Tea Party Caucus in the House rejected the idea of linking a tax cut extension to an extension of unemployment benefits.

"I don't think that the American people should have to pay for that by having to have some new massive spending tied to it," Representative Michele Bachmann said in an interview with ABC's "Good Morning America." "If that's the case, I don't think you are going to see the Republicans go along with it."

What an utterly delusional Report. What the hell does Bachmann have to do with the negotiations?

:rofl:

[Nancy Waterman]

20. Can it be done by reconciliation since it ends the other cuts?

Would that bypass the hated filibuster?

[mzmolly]

21. Please let it happen...

:fistbump:

[ProSense]

23. More irrelevant House Republicans

Paul Ryan: GOP opposes 'decoupling' tax cuts

Paul Ryan, the incoming chairman of the House Budget Committee, doesn't like the idea of holding a separate vote on permanently extending middle-income tax cuts, an approach that he calls "decoupling." Instead, Ryan wants to hold middle-income tax cuts hostage to give Republicans the leverage they need to pass upper-income tax cuts. Naturally, Ryan predicts President Obama and Democrats will cave:

<...>

GOP's Top Tax Guy: Republicans Will Block Permanent Middle-Class Tax Cut

The Republicans' top tax guy in the House threatened in the clearest possible terms today that he and the rest of the GOP would vote to block any tax cut for the middle class during the lame duck session unless tax cuts for the wealthy are extended for the same period of time.

In a policy speech at the business-friendly Tax Council today, incoming Ways and Means Committee chairman David Camp called the Democratic plan for tax cuts -- a permanent tax cut extension for all income up to $200,000, and a temporary extension for income above that level -- "a terrible idea and a total nonstarter."

<...>

[Dr Fate]

24. "Tax Guy?" Is that like Bush's "Budget Man?" LOL!

I hope all these GOPers do turn out to be irrelevant, but we have not beat them yet.

[ProSense]

25. "I hope all these GOPers do turn out to be irrelevant, but we have not beat them yet." Math

makes them irrelevant in the lame duck session.

There are more than 250 Democrats in the House through the date the tax cuts expire, and they need about 220 votes to pass a tax cut. Not a single Republican vote is needed.

[Dr Fate]

26. As if I have not heard all this b/f. Again, I'll call them irrelevant when I see their buts kicked

Hope you are right...Forgive me if I still have the calls of "We dont have the votes- what part of 'we dont have the votes' dont you understand?!!" still ringing in my ears from last time. It had nothing to do with "irrelevant Republicans" and everything to do with turn-coat "Far center" (LOL!) Democrats.

"Math" indeed.