Dem lawmakers introduce Afghan war surtax

[laststeamtrain]

Source: The Hill

Dem lawmakers introduce Afghan war surtax
By Jordan Fabian - 11/19/09 06:53 PM ET

A trio of Democratic lawmakers on Thursday introduced legislation that would impose a surtax to pay for the war in Afghanistan.

Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Dave Obey (Wis.), Defense Appropriations Subcommittee John Murtha (Pa.), and Democratic Caucus chairman John Larsen (Conn.) say that the bill woild end the practice of paying for the war with deficit spending.

"Regardless of whether one favors the war or not, if it is to be fought, it ought to be paid for," the lawmakers said in a statement. "Now the president is being asked to consider an enlarged counterinsurgency effort in Afghanistan, which proponents tell us will take at least a decade and would also cost about a trillion dollars. But unlike the healthcare bill, that would not be paid for."

Should the bill pass, the surtax would come into effect in 2011 and would pay off war costs from the previous year. Democratic lawmakers previously introduced a similar measure to fund the Iraq War that failed to pass through Congress.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/68775-dem-lawmakers-introduce-afghan-war-surtax

[laststeamtrain]

1. US lawmakers: New tax should pay for Afghan war

US lawmakers: New tax should pay for Afghan war

(AFP) – 2 hours ago

WASHINGTON — Influential US lawmakers on Thursday called for levying a new income tax to pay for the war in Afghanistan, warning its costs pose a mortal threat to efforts like a sweeping health care overhaul.

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The proposed "Share The Sacrifice Act of 2010" came with Obama set to announce within weeks his decision on whether to send more US troops to fight the war, now in its ninth year.

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The proposal, a heavily symbolic measure seen as having next to no chance of becoming law, would impose a war surtax on income beginning in 2011 -- though it would allow the president to delay implementation by one year upon deciding the US economy is too weak to sustain such a tax shift.

It would also exempt members of the US military who have served in combat since the September 11, 2001 terrorist strikes, their families, and families of soldiers who died as a result of combat.

"The only people who?ve paid any price for our military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan are our military families," the lawmakers said. "We believe that if this war is to be fought, it?s only fair that everyone share the burden."

If the war is not paid for, its costs "will devour money that could be used to rebuild our economy by fixing our broken health care system, expanding educational opportunities and job training possibilities, attacking our long term energy problems and building stronger communities," they said.

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hE9vVpouPseYTVMvIAwIAoGRTPMQ

[HowHasItComeToThis]

6. HOW ABOUT A "STOCK TRANSFER TAX"

HAD IT FOR YEARS.

WE COULD ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX PERHAPS

[avaistheone1]

8. I would prefer a stock transfer tax to fund health care.

[DallasNE]

2. This Should Have Been Done 8 Years Ago

I believe that was done for awhile during Vietnam -- just working from memory on that.

[blackcanyon]

7. I agree with this 1000%

It's time for politicians to put their money where there mouth is. If these Republicans an these (so called) moderate and conservative Democrats think that healthcare should be paid for - then by gosh so should these stupid ass wars. PUT UP OR SHUT UP!!

[Born Free]

11. Any tax for WAR must be used only for WAR ...

it's extremely important to keep any special taxes to cover the cost of war separate or
else the republicans will claim the tax on is being used for domestic causes they
object to. Likewise it should not be any type of gimmick, it should be an equal tax
on every one, clearly marked so everyone realizes the financial costs of unneeded wars.
They may not mind seeing young people getting killed, but once they can see actual money
being taken from their pockets they will have a better understanding of the costs.
They could also have a tax for the veterans affected by the wars of choice.

overall, I think it's a great idea...

[cloudbase]

3. If, as some say,

it's so bloody important that we be over there, then not only should taxes be increased, but there should be a draft as well.

[Psephos]

4. This is exactly the kind of Pay-Go we were promised. More power to them. n/t

[Nite Owl]

5. This should definitely pass

after all those Blue Dogs and New Dems are so interested in the deficit.

:sarcasm:

[JCMach1]

9. How about a tax on guns and bullets...?

makes sense, no?

[Hardrada]

10. I'm all for using this as pressure to stop the war once people

see real money is involved.