"Democrats push Obama on tax-cut compromise"

[Clio the Leo]

A follow up to...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x535454

Democrats push Obama on tax-cut compromise

By Lori Montgomery
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, November 29, 2010; 8:25 AM

A faction of congressional Democrats is making a last-minute push to persuade President Obama to consider a compromise on tax policy that would leave only the nation's 315,000 richest households facing higher taxes in January.

Over the past few days, a growing number of lawmakers has publicly embraced the idea of extending expiring tax cuts for families making as much as $1 million a year. They include newly elected Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who argued on "Fox News Sunday" that "we should draw the line in the sand for millionaires."

The idea's chief proponent, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), said that raising the income threshold from $250,000, as Obama has proposed, has the potential to unite fractious Democrats behind a single strategy on the tax cuts, which are set to expire Dec. 31 unless Congress acts.

Schumer said the higher threshold also would make it far more difficult for Republicans to say no.

"There's a strong view in the caucus that if we make the dividing line $1 million, it becomes a very simple argument: We are for giving the middle class a tax break; they're for tax cuts for millionaires," Schumer said Sunday. At $250,000, he said, the message is "too muddled. It's much clearer at $1 million. It unites our base and the independent voters we lost in this election."

The campaign comes as Obama is preparing to host a high-stakes meeting on taxes and other issues Tuesday morning with congressional leaders from both parties - the first such gathering since Republicans hammered Democrats at the polls earlier this month. Republicans are insisting on extending the cuts for families at all income levels, and the coming battle over taxes will be the first test of the new balance of power in Washington.

<snip>

Administration officials also are skeptical of the $1 million proposal, which would mark a shift in the position Obama has staked out since the presidential campaign, when he promised not to raise taxes for the middle class. The administration defined that group as families earning as much as $250,000 a year and individuals earning as much as $200,000.

Obama has vowed to let the tax cuts expire for higher earners, arguing that the nation cannot afford to spend $700 billion over the next decade on tax cuts for the wealthy. Raising the threshold to $1 million would cut the potential savings to less than $400 billion through 2020, according to Treasury Department estimates.

"There is unity among Democrats about the best way forward, including the importance of making middle-class tax cuts permanent, opposition to borrowing $700 billion to make tax cuts permanent for millionaires and billionaires and a willingness to have a good faith conversation with both Republicans and Democrats about the best path forward," White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Sunday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/29/AR2010112901763.html

Got a problem with this? Dont waste your minutes on the White House, CONGRESS is who you need to call...
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

[Skittles]

1. he LOVES compromise!!!

people making a million dollars NEED their tax cut more than fed workers need a raise!!!

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. I was going to post "Don't worry...he'll get the blame,"

but it looks like the PUMA Peanut Gallery already beat me to it.

[jpgray]

3. That he receives credit for legislation but not blame, I had almost forgot

Incidentally, is writing off any and all criticism with a one-liner a comfort? Is believing all critics to be Hillary diehards critically important somehow?

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Whatevs

As you well know, I don't give a shit what you have to say.

[jpgray]

7. I wonder why that attitude disappears when dealing with the GOP. It gets plenty of use intraparty.

[high density]

4. This is so lame

Given our progressive tax structure the tax increase would only effect income above $250k. I don't see what is so "muddled" about increasing taxes on on all income above $250k.

What is special about this $250k-$1mm income range that they are hung up on?

There is a shitload of focus and concern for these rich people making $250k (about $4800 a week) to $1 million ($19,230 a week) while the middle class is widely getting fucked.

[jpgray]

6. Why? Don't know. A rote Beltway guess: easier to sell, Dems in conservative areas are nervous

[high density]

8. How many people making $250k+ to $1 million a year vote for Democrats?

Damn few. Once again the message of the Democratic party is being watered down and compromised to pander to an electorate that doesn't care about ever voting for Democrats anyway.

[jberryhill]

9. Where do you get your facts

I'd like to see a link to your fact about income level and voting.

http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2008/11/05/why-the-wealthy-voted-for-obama/

(Obama) also won 52% of the votes of those earning $200,000 or more. That compares with Sen. John McCain’s 46% showing for the same group.

[high density]

10. $200k+ went 62% for GOP in 2010 elections

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ftw3ke

Click the "income" piece.

[last_texas_dem]

11. This is some weak bullshit.

The Democratic Party is a shadow of its former self.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

12. The higher threshold "would make it far more difficult for Republicans to say no"

You've got to be kidding me. These guys wake up in the morning saying "No!" They shave (without a mirror, of course, since their image doesn't appear) saying "No!" They drive to work saying "No!"

Do you think that any compromise offered by the Democrats will be met by any other response?

According to the Repugs, the 2010 election is proof that the "people" want to do things their way. Of course, the 2008 election, which had a much different result, didn't mean shit.

All the Dems have to do is let the tax cuts expire and put forward a separate bill limited to those making under $250,000. They could do this by the end of the week, if they wanted to.

What's the GOP going to do about it? Oh, that's right -- say "NO!"

[ladjf]

13. Obama doesn't feel Democratic push, only Republican push.

Why is that? Who knows?