On Payroll Tax Cut, Obama Administration Plotting Year-End Showdown

[Tx4obama]

On Payroll Tax Cut, Obama Administration Plotting Year-End Showdown

WASHINGTON -- Top officials in the Obama administration on Thursday outlined a major end-of-the-year push to pass an extension of the payroll tax cut, pledging to make Republicans take a political hit for inaction.

In a background briefing with reporters, two senior administration officials repeatedly warned they would make an example of GOP lawmakers adjourning in December without acting on that major component of the president's job package.

"I think it is going to be very dramatic as we count down towards the end of the year and the clock is ticking on whether the average person's taxes are going to go up $1,000 next year," said one official. "It is going to be certainly an organizing principle and a focusing principle for this debate, and we are going to make the argument as clearly as we can. ... Congress cannot leave town and on their way out of town wave to the American people and say, 'We just raised your taxes $1,000.'"

"I do think making sure that the public understands that Congress ought to do something before they leave town, I think we can zero in some attention on that," the official added.

SNIP

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/payroll-tax-cut-obama-administration-year-end-showdown_n_1086761.html

[customerserviceguy]

1. This is why I opposed the FICA tax cut a year ago

It was bound to be permanent.

Imagine if Bush, Jr. had said, "We're going to take half of the money you toss into Social Security, and stick it in an investment fund for you." We would have been outraged. Well, I upped my 401K deduction by 2% when the FICA tax cut took effect at the first of the year, and if this goes through, I'll add another 1.5%.

Because I'm gonna need it.

[Vincardog]

2. The FICA cut was and is BO's way of gutting SSI while defending it and winning on the

"protection". It is BS.

[Pirate Smile]

3. Oh, bullshit. Obama isn't plotting to "gut SSI".

:eyes:

[TheKentuckian]

6. Nope, he is going for a slow death by a thousand papercuts to avoid just such a charge

and prevent a mutiny until it is too late.

[Hutzpa]

4. Where did you get your talking point from? nt.

[WI_DEM]

5. Your assertions about 'BO' are BS

[sad sally]

7. Remember how the President said this robbery, er benefit would be paid for?

The President said the "extended tax holiday" would be paid for by permanently limiting the ability of those earning more than $200,000 a year to take full advantage of their itemized deductions, including their charitable deductions.

With over 40% of charitable deductions being claimed by those impacted by this proposed policy, the practical effect is a tax on and a reduction in charitable giving. This will negatively impact thousands of churches and non-profits. How will this get sold?