"Republicans have a Democratic president doing their work for them ...."

[Better Believe It]

Obama to blink first on Social Security
By: Robert Kuttner
December 16, 2010

The tax deal negotiated by President Barack Obama and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is just the first part of a multistage drama that is likely to further divide and weaken Democrats.

The second part, now being teed up by the White House and key Senate Democrats, is a scheme for the president to embrace much of the Bowles-Simpson plan — including cuts in Social Security. This is to be unveiled, according to well-placed sources, in the president’s State of the Union address.

Obama is finally getting the bipartisanship he craved — but entirely on Republican terms.

Republicans win three ways. They have a Democratic president doing their work for them, destroying the Democratic capacity to use affirmative government to address dire national problems and annihilating his own party.

And all this before they even take over the House.

Read the full article at:

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=EB5E9565-C4A8-7E36-747EADB1F4AAB099


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Deficit reduction: Why it may not be dead despite the costly tax cut deal
By Linda Feldmann
December 17, 2010

A bipartisan group of more than 20 senators has been meeting since July to try to push for fiscal discipline. The senators’ effort to require the Senate to address comprehensively the deficit, spending cuts, and tax reform in 2011 failed to make it into the two-year tax-cut legislation signed Friday, but they will keep pushing for action.

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, also says she’s holding on to “slight optimism” over the fiscal situation.

Ms. MacGuineas points to the bipartisan Senate group, led by Sens. Mark Warner (D) of Virginia and Saxby Chambliss (R) of Georgia, as a welcome sign that the efforts of the president’s fiscal commission won’t go to waste. MacGuineas has advised the senators.

“It seems the remarkably good work of the fiscal commission could have died a slow and quiet death if not for this bipartisan group of champions,” she says. “I don’t know that anyone was expecting this, but there appears to be a very serious effort under way in the Senate to keep the momentum of this work alive.”



President Barack Obama smiles after signing into law a bill extending Bush-era tax cuts at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington Friday.

Read the full article at:

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/1217/Deficit-reduction-Why-it-may-not-be-dead-despite-the-costly-tax-cut-deal/(page)/2


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Hoyer wants tax reform in the next Congress
By Michael O'Brien
December 17, 2010

Rep. Steny Hoyer (Md.), who will serve as Democrats' minority whip in the next Congress, said he had approached the Republican who will serve as chairman of the tax-writing committee in the next Congress to raise the issue of tax reform.

Hoyer suggested that Congress should look to the tax reform recommendations offered by the president's fiscal commission, which called for the elimination of a number of loopholes, while also bringing down rates across income brackets.

Obama has suggested that tax reform is an idea that interests him, and The New York Times reported earlier this month that the administration is considering reform as an area in which it could find common ground with congressional Republicans, who will take control of the House on Jan. 5.

A Republican-held House presented the perfect opportunity for tax reform, Hoyer said.

Read the full article at:

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/134207-hoyer-wants-tax-reform-in-the-next-congress

The tax reform the deficit commission and Congressman Hoyer have in mind would cut the corporate taxes and tax rates for millionaires/billionaires while eliminating so-called "tax loopholes" that benefit working people. They propose across the board cuts in itemized tax deductions such as the home mortgage interest payments deduction and cutting corporate taxes from 35% to as low as 26% and the highest personal income tax rate for rich people from 35% to 23%!

The bottom line for these tax "reforms" will mean more tax cuts for the rich and higher taxes for workers in order to cut budget deficits. BBI

[Poboy]

1. recommended

[Still a Democrat]

13. !! Robert Kuttner supported a payroll tax holiday in September !!

Six. Propose a six month tax holiday for payroll taxes. Ask for the Republicans' support. This would provide direct tax relief to working people and lower the cost of creating jobs. It would provide more of a tonic to the economy and more practical help to American families than any of the Republicans' proposed tax cuts. Make up the loss to the Social Security trust funds with a temporary surtax on people making over $10 million a year.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-kuttner/maybe-not-such-a-midterm-_b_714019.html

:rofl:

[Better Believe It]

15. You're misrepresenting his position. Kutter did not propose any funding out of general revenues.

He never supported funding Social Security out of general revenues which was a key part of the Obama/Republican tax cut proposal.

Instead, Kutter proposed a six month tax holiday for social security taxes that would be paid for by a surtax on people making over 10 million dollars a year.

You didn't know that .... or did that fact not fit your narrative?

Here's what Robert Kuttner actually wrote which you decided to not include in your post:

"Propose a six month tax holiday for payroll taxes. Ask for the Republicans' support. This would provide direct tax relief to working people and lower the cost of creating jobs. It would provide more of a tonic to the economy and more practical help to American families than any of the Republicans' proposed tax cuts. Make up the loss to the Social Security trust funds with a temporary surtax on people making over $10 million a year."

So Kuttner proposed making the rich pay billions into the Social Security trust fund that they otherwise would avoid. I can go along with that! In fact, how about ending the CAP on Social Security taxable income and making the millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share the entire year!

Hope you're not opposed to that "Still a Democrat".

[Marr]

19. Thank you for that information.

There are some who seem to make a job of posting deceptive half-truths.

[Still a Democrat]

20. "He never supported funding Social Security out of general revenues "

That's exactly what he did. It's clear from his statement below the surtax would be taken into the general fund and then we would "make up the loss to the Social Security trust funds."


"Make up the loss to the Social Security trust funds with a temporary surtax on people making over $10 million a year."

It's true that he specified a particular revenue source to make up the money, but his proposal clearly does not avoid the dreaded mixing of general and SS revenues.

I'm all for lifting the cap, btw.

[aquart]

2. It's wrong to hope lightning will strike each one individually.

Just wrong.

[salinen]

5. Group strike?

makes more sense.

[aquart]

16. That could be put down to mere accident.

Which would also be called an Act of God but not nearly so terrifying.

[Little Star]

3. Sure feels like it sometimes. k&r

[Kayla2010]

4. The workers always pay anyways don't we?

If they didn't get it here the prices of everything would go up.

[hfojvt]

6. oh don't be so negative - at least he will be re-elected

so he can continue to do the Republicans work.

[DJ13]

7. This isnt Bush III, its Clinton 2.0

Clinton was the best Republican President in many years.

He passed more conservative Republican policies than even Reagan dared to.

Obama is like his clone, talking progressive while acting conservative.

[ljm2002]

8. "to try to push for fiscal discipline"...

...maybe they could start by ending illegal wars that are financed off the balance sheet? Maybe they could start by clawing back the ill-gotten gains of the banksters? Maybe they could have started by letting the rich pay their fair share of taxes? Maybe they could have started by passing health care laws that actually pushed costs down instead of watching helplessly as they continue to skyrocket?

No, of course not. We need those wars. Those banksters need their lavish lifestyles. The rich will create jobs with that extra money, just you wait! (and wait, and wait, and wait...). Our health care is the best in the world! Really! If you can't pay for it then that's your problem, isn't it?

And Granny likes cat food, if she didn't then she wouldn't be buying it, would she?

A pox on the bunch of criminals in D.C.

[Still a Democrat]

9. "Republicans have Robert Kuttner doing their work for them ...."

Fixed.

[Better Believe It]

11. Good point! Robert Kuttner probably does support Obama's collaboration with Republicans.

[Scurrilous]

10. K & R

:toast: :beer: :party: :loveya: :hug: :fistbump: :headbang: :yourock:

[nashville_brook]

12. k and r

[LaPera]

14. Look at that smile - Obama's greatest joy is to be loved & accepted by republicans!

Surrounded by VP Biden and republicans I haven't seen Obama with this big of a smile since he agreed to get rid of the health care Public Option that the republicans demanded he do.....as here he signs a two-year extension of the fucked up 10 year Bush deficit raising, no jobs produce, unfair tax cuts to the richest 2% and then gave even MORE than the tax cuts to the republicans - after closed-doors meetings & deals with congressional republicans only!

As he has done so often in the past caving into or giving into his republican foes, pals...perhaps a wannabe? Selling out progressive social-democrats for a fucking 'moderate" or corporate fascist republican agenda.

Hard words - Bullshit just look at the facts. - Yes, Obama has done some things I've liked, but never consistent, the only constant is his willingness to work with & please & untimely give into republicans demands and policy...Why in the fuck are they setting policy?

[niceypoo]

17. What I want to know is...

Will Obama keep making backroom deals with him while they are impeaching him?

[somone]

18. It's just a little good cop, bad cop routine

There is a quid pro quo mortals are not allowed to know