Senate GOP puts price on a blue-state tax cut

[babylonsister]

Senate GOP puts price on a blue-state tax cut
By Jessica Holzer
October 24, 2007

Senate Republicans are demanding the extension of President Bush’s signature tax cuts before they cooperate on hemming in another tax that they contend affects mostly “blue state” voters living along the coasts.

At issue is the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), which will hit an additional 20 million taxpayers next April unless Congress takes action. The problem for Democrats is that they will need Republican support to shield people from the tax, and Republicans are signaling they will have to pay a price.

“A one-year patch is not my highest priority. There are not many people in my state who are affected by that ,” said Sen. Trent Lott (Miss.), the Senate’s second-ranking Republican.

Under pay-go rules, Democrats would have to pay for a one-year AMT patch, which would cost $55 billion. This has fueled speculation that Democrats will override pay-go rules to pass the AMT fix. However, Democrats need 60 votes to get around the budget rules.

Lott said there are “more than the necessary votes” in his conference to stop Democrats from reaching the 60 votes necessary to waive pay-go rules.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-gop-puts-price-on-a-blue-state-tax-cut-2007-10-24.html

[angstlessk]

1. patch it till the gal dern repukes are out of office! n/t

[Selatius]

2. So what will the Dem leadership do? Cut the deal? Or attempt to break the 60 barrier?

The cynical part of me says they will cut the deal and extend Bush's unsustainable tax cuts to rich people.

[BootinUp]

3. Make the repukes take the blame right before the election

call their bluff.

[robinlynne]

4. Funny, our side never does that. (and I do not think it is a good thing.)

Let's stop being sweet and nice to a steamroller...It jsut doens't make sense. play hard like they do. come on. we have your backs!

[WCGreen]

5. Put it on the floor and let the God Damn republicans go on record

as being against changing the AMT...

It's time to throw down the gaunlet...