Why are we waiting to vote on the Bush Tax Cuts?

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

I'm failing to understand the strategy...

If there are going to be MORE republicans after the election, wouldn't we want to scrap the Bush Tax Cuts NOW? It may be harder after the election.

The only thing I can think of is that they really KNOW the tax cuts will get extended (because of turncoat dems) and they don't to upset progressives before the election.

[hendo]

1. The Bush tax cuts are set to expire

But, I don't know why we are putting off extending the middle class tax cut. That's just insanity that will foster the idea that democrats want to raise taxes. Our party is really dropping the ball this election season!

[tridim]

2. You don't have to pay the tax increase the day they expire.

That's not how taxes work.

The Dems have plenty of time to extend the middle-class tax rate.

[hendo]

9. Yes, I know thats not how taxes work

What you are missing is that it makes the Dems look bad going into the elections. It will allow the republicans to say that the democrats are going to let all tax cuts expire. It is a dangerous game for our party to play against teabaggers who claim that democrats want to raise taxes on everyone.

[indepat]

3. By jove, i think you've got it: anyone pontificating about deficit reduction/fiscal sanity and

supporting extension of tax cuts for the 2% is hypocritical, disingenuous, duplicitous, mendacious, and an arse eos. ;)

[Johonny]

4. They think Dems and taxes only works as an issue in certain districts

they are targeting those districts with tax ads. However in other districts they fear Republicans own the tax issue and the local election campaign don't want tax issues on the table. The Dems are apparently using a local plan to fight local races rather than a national plan to fight local races. It's unclear such a plan will work but as people point out with so many Dems in office atm there are a lot of Dems in conservative districts that won't respond well to a national liberal agenda. I'll judge them for their results after the election.

[Sal Minella]

5. My impression is that the more vulnerable Democrats dread

being perceived as "Soak The Rich" Congresscritters because they are subject to too many voters who believe they're going to win the lottery and be filthy rich themselves someday, so they're looking out for tax breaks for the wealthy NOW as a way of protecting their own long-term interests.

(I think this is the only "long-term" concept they've taken up.)

Americans who watch FOX seem to believe that looking out for the welfare of the wealthy now will best serve their own interests in the long run.

These are the same people who DON'T comprehend that "reducing the national debt" and "cutting taxes for the wealthy" are mutually exclusive ideas.

[Cresent City Kid]

6. I don't understand either

The vote will take place between the election and when the new Congress is sworn in so the election results won't have an effect on the vote. The issue is the effect a vote will have on the election.

The Dems are afraid that letting a tax cut expire for the rich will be twisted into ads saying Congressman John Doe voted for higher taxes. Guess what? Those ads are coming either way. If they have the vote, they can say "We kept your tax cut, and ended the one for the rich." Without the vote, the gop can argue that the Democrats may let the tax cuts expire for everyone. It's bullshit, but that never stopped them before.

[marybourg]

7. "Lame Duck" session. nt.

[ieoeja]

8. Because the majority in both houses favor lowering taxes on everybody.

Conservatives (some of D; 100% of R) - favor lowering taxes on everybody. Therefore, if they voted on lowering taxes on everybody, it would pass.

Democrats (and a few R) - are willing to compromise by lowering taxes on the middle class. But most R (and a few D) in the Senate refuse to accept any compromise. And there are enough of them to filibuster.


Also, a handful of moderate Democrats are coming to realize that a tax cut for anybody is unaffordable. The gov't is broke and needs that revenue. We also need the gov't to borrow less to free up money for businesses and individuals.


We have a Democratic majority. But we also have a Conservative majority. Thankfully, we don't have a Conservative Speaker who would bring it up to vote. Otherwise, they would pass a tax cut for everybody, but skewed heavily in favor of the investor class. And the economy would keep right on tanking as those investors continued cashing out to take advantage of those low tax rates rather than keeping that money invested to ride out higher taxes until they were lowered again.

[gkhouston]

10. So they can extend them for everyone while we're busy shopping.

The politicians have forgotten that a lot of people don't have money for holiday presents this year.