Obama Scranton Visit Aimed at White, Working-Class Vote

[bigtree]

Nov 30, 2011 6:00am

President Obama‘s choice of Scranton, Pa., to talk taxes today isn’t just coincidence: it’s a strategic backdrop for a pre-election pitch aimed largely at white working-class voters in critical swing states.

In a speech at Scranton High School — a setting identical to one used last week in Manchester, N.H. — Obama will plug his plan to extend and expand a payroll tax cut for workers and impose a new payroll tax cut for small businesses. He’ll also likely underscore Republican opposition, which has included GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney.

Obama’s campaign strategists say the goal is to articulate in real, tangible terms what’s at stake for the middle class in the 2012 campaign, and how the differences between candidates could mean a hit to their pocketbooks . . .


read: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/11/obama-scranton-visit-aimed-at-white-working-class-vote/

[razorman]

1. I do not understand how he would "impose" a tax cut. Don't all tax cuts and increases

have to originate in the House? Frankly, the idea that any president can regulate taxes on his own makes me uncomfortable. There are constitutional procedures for these things.

[bigtree]

2. okay

True that money bills have to originate in the House, except, money legislation can be brought up in the Senate by unanimous consent (60 votes).

The article makes it appear the President is looking to impose the taxes himself, but Congress will have to take up the matter in both houses -- regular order, probably.

[razorman]

3. Thanks. That's pretty much what I thought. So, the article was mistaken.

Writers should be more careful when they make such statements. They are conferring more power on the individual person than he actually has. Much like when a politician runs for office promising, "I will lower your taxes.", or "I will 'invest' in this or that program." Far too many people actually believe they have this power.