Bush Pushes Case for Permanent Tax Cuts

AP ^ | 4/1/6 | Nedra Pickler

[SmithL]

Waco, Texas -- President Bush used the upcoming income tax-filing deadline and his weekly radio address to promote tax-cut proposals and set up an election-year debate with Democrats over the issue.

In the broadcast Saturday, Bush urged Congress to permanently extend tax cuts that he pushed into law during his first term, which are set to expire in coming years.

"Some Democrats in Washington are insisting that we let that happen, or even repeal the tax cuts now," Bush said as he spent the weekend at his Texas ranch. "In either case, that would weaken our economy and would leave American families with a big tax hike that they do not expect and will not welcome."

Democrats argue Bush's emphasis on sweeping tax cuts is driving up the deficit. They say his tax relief primarily benefits the wealthy.

The president argued that he can meet his goal of cutting the deficit in half by the end of his time in office through pro-growth economic policies and spending restraint.

"The evidence is overwhelming: The opponents of tax cuts were wrong," he said. "Tax relief has helped to create jobs and opportunities for American families, and it's helped our economy grow."

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

How about tax reform, Mr. President? What good are cuts if the government just spends the extra revenues.

[manwiththehands]

"We'll let you keep more of your money. But we get to spend more of your money that you haven't given us yet. OK?"

[Coop]

Good grief. Whining on this one, too. There's just no pleasing some people. And that ain't Dubya's fault.

I heartily applaud his push to make our tax cuts permanent.

[Tzimisce]

...be nice, but this is never going to happen. Too many people love stealing from their neighbors...

[EagleUSA]

The hypocrisy of Washington -- tax cust while spending us into oblivion debt...and no SPENDING CUTS... how stupid do they think we are.

Washington fiddles while America burns.

[KingKenrod]

[Willie Green]

The president argued that he can meet his goal of cutting the deficit in half by the end of his time in office through pro-growth economic policies and spending restraint.

Good grief...
All the good jobs are being outsourced offshore...
his proposed "guest peons" send all their meager earnings back to Mexico...
And the boob hasn't vetoed any congressional spending in 6 years..

I think Dubya must've started cutting math class shortly after he learned how to count how many cans of beer were in a sixpack.

[inquest]

If we can get the tax cuts permanent, that will put major pressure on government to tighten its budget. Right now, they have no incentive at all, because the tax cuts are set to expire automatically. At that point, taxes will go back up, and the tax cuts (not Washington's freespending ways) will be what gets blamed for the deficit. And that will make it so much harder to cut taxes in the future.

So getting them made permanent absolutely has to be the top domestic priority for the administration. (and yes, that effort would certainly be helped if it were accompanied by a push to curtail spending)

[ExcursionGuy84]

They Democrats say his tax relief primarily benefits the wealthy.

So...aren't most of the Congressional Democrats well-to-do financially?

[Willie Green]

Bush said as he spent the weekend at his Texas ranch.

I think this must be a recording from last year.
I bet he's still down in Cancun on Spring Break.

[longtermmemmory]

This is a good political move since it PERMANENTLY takes the ISSUE away from the democrats.

Then when regular reform comes next, it will be a "raise taxes" stand the democrats will have to take.

[Coop]

I think Dubya must've started cutting math class shortly after he learned how to count how many cans of beer were in a sixpack.

And yet he's POTUS and a former governor, while omnipotent Willie Green is just a bitter economic Eeyore.

[isthisnickcool]

Let's see, I was a big Bush supporter. Now I'm trying to think of the time I was really proud of him. He has failed at campaign finance reform and signed a illegal bill, he has never cared enough about anything to veto, he botched the handling of the illegals and just kissed Vincente Fox's ass, he's given away Treasury money to Africans that hate us, brought about a perscription drug program nobody wanted, he has sucked on taxes, the list goes on and on. Oh, oh! I remember the last time I was proud of his. It was way back on this day:

[RHINO369]

You don't think his dad being president had anything to do with his lot in life?

[inquest]

Democrats say his tax relief primarily benefits the wealthy.

Anyone who starts spouting that bilge needs to have this shoved in his face. Taxes on high incomes aren't taxes on the wealthy. They're taxes on people trying to get wealthy. People like Kerry who have large fortunes already amassed are quite capable of sheltering their income and assets from taxation.

[Coop]

Did I say that? But if Eeyore can believe Dubya's an MBA that can't do math, then I can believe his father had no influence in his life and political career.

[RobbyS]

Have people forgotten that we are in the midst of a war? I guess so, since only military familiies have had to suffer from it.

[inquest]

Are you saying you're opposed to the tax cuts? If so, I couldn't disagree more. We could easily fund military operations with the rate that the taxes are being cut to.

[thoughtomator]

Tax cuts without spending cuts is irresponsible and immoral. Of course what really needs to be done is to simplify the tax code so that your average high school student and small business owner can do their own taxes.

[glowworm]

They Democrats say his tax relief primarily benefits the wealthy. So...aren't most of the Congressional Democrats well-to-do financially?

Some are.. but the majority of Dems pay NO income tax but get tax back to them from other filers. It is a nice shell game.. Spend other ppl's money.. Anyway, if they were serious, they would agree to have a check-off box to send more taxes volunterily to the Gooberment. (When pigs fly).. I want the Fair tax pronto amigo, cut the crap.

[Willie Green]

Dubya's an MBA that can't do math

Harvard is where he learned how many sixpacks were in a case.

[n-tres-ted]

You are so right. Sometimes I wonder if the people posting here are Dems. Nothing but complaining and trying to find some reason not to support the president. We need those tax cuts extended. This economy would still be way underwater without them. And Kerry would likely be president!

[inquest]

Tax cuts without spending cuts is irresponsible and immoral.

I agree that it's better if spending goes down at the same time as taxes, but given the choice between cutting taxes without spending cuts right away, and not cutting taxes because spending hasnn't gone down, I'll take the tax cuts. Cutting taxes will put the squeeze on Congress to cut spending.

[ConsentofGoverned]

"We'll let you keep more of your money. But we get to spend more of your money that you haven't given us yet. OK?""
>>>>>>>>>>>>>........
you nailed it Bush knows the next president will have plenty of deficit ammo to ram threw BIG TAX HIKES..what fools we all have been..sold down the river by the BUSH family again why didn't I remember "READ MY LIPS"
The Bush's are playing a high stakes game with our sovereignty for a buy in to the ruling elite of the NEW WORLD ORDER right out of the mouth of Dad Bush.

[thoughtomator]

Cutting taxes will put the squeeze on Congress to cut spending.

Not without a hard debt limit. If they can spend they will spend, this appears to be an immutable axiom of Congress.

[inquest]

When the tax cuts are made permanent, it will be easier, politically, to put pressure on Congressmen to restrain spending.

[billbears]

It's based on the ridiculous claim the RNC makes every few years of drowning the government. Theoretically, they will cut taxes and then spend under the belief at some future point the government will have to cut back. I saw theoretically because it's never happened. When the government does realize they've spent too much they just increase the debt ceiling or vote 'grudingly' for higher taxes.

[n-tres-ted]

Tax cuts without spending cuts is irresponsible and immoral. I respectfully disagree. See the thread on FR with the article by Herman Cain reporting the increases in tax revenues experienced following every tax cuts, with the wealthy paying an even greater share of total taxes every time. The U.S. is collecting far more revenues right now than would be the case if the tax cuts had not been adopted. What, I ask you, is immoral or irresponsible about that? And that just refers to the payment of government expenses. Every cut in marginal tax rates - every one - allows more jobs to be created, more economic growth, and a increase in the rate of growth of the standard of living. That, I believe, is entirely moral and responsible. Every time.

[thoughtomator]

I wish I had your confidence. I struggle to even think of a scenario - a realistic, plausible one - in which Congress spends less.

[inquest]

If that's the case, then what do you propose as a course of action?

[ConsentofGoverned]

"Every cut in marginal tax rates - every one - allows more jobs to be created, more economic growth, and a increase in the rate of growth of the standard of living. That, I believe, is entirely moral and responsible. Every time."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..
and the unfunded FICA and medicaid/medicare rx benefits and other off the books debt what about that how does that figure in your plans..tax cuts and increased spending..not a good plan.

[jwh_Denver]

"If we can get the tax cuts permanent, that will put major pressure on government to tighten its budget."

You really believe that?

[TontoKowalski]

Make them permanant? NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

Make them DEEPER!

I just finished up my tax return, and I am PO'd.

[inquest]

Well, let me put it this way: Under what conditions do you think we'd be more likely to have success in getting them to cut spending - conditions of higher taxes or conditions of lower taxes?

[n-tres-ted]

FICA and other payroll tax benefits are much better funded, thanks to the cuts in income tax marginal rates. The payroll tax rates are not cut, and yet the number of jobs grows, providing that much more revenue for those entitlement programs. The problem of getting government to cut spending is a separate objective that has to be tackled. But the absolute worst thing you can do towards that end is to raise taxes. By doing so, you destroy jobs, reduce government revenues, and increase the deficit. The increase in deficit is almost exponential, because more people are out of work and collecting benefits from public programs.

[Doe Eyes]

How about tax reform, Mr. President? What good are cuts if the government just spends the extra revenues.

We're a long way from paying in what we spend.

[thoughtomator]

You do have a good point. Where tax cuts do increase the tax base by a greater percentage than the revenue cut they can be responsibly decreased.

[thoughtomator]

Take the most direct route to limiting the federal government to the tasks enumerated for it in the Constitution.

[RobbyS]

No, I am saying that the war accounts for much of the deficit. In fact, it provides an excuse for much of the pork. I am reminded of a similar practice during our Civil War.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I heartily applaud his push to make our tax cuts permanent.

What good are tax cuts if the extra revenues are just spent up?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I bet he's still down in Cancun on Spring Break.

ROFL!

[suijuris]

If we can get the tax cuts permanent, that will put major pressure on government to tighten its budget.

BS! As people continue to inch their way up to middle/ upper middle class more and more will be hit with the AMT. Even now many single income filers making $80,000 and double income filers making $140 to $150 are paying AMT.

The FedGov is playing a shell game. By 2012 39% of taxpayers will be paying AMT. Currently the AMT offsets the Bush tax cuts to the tune of about $640 billion a year; and the revenue goes up every year as more and more middle class people suddenly become "rich"!

[n-tres-ted]

Here is the link to that Herman Cain article:

http://snipurl.com/ojgw

The INCREASE in revenues from the 2003 tax CUTS are many tens of billions, while at the same time there are 2 million people with jobs who wouldn't have them if the tax cuts had not been passed. Make no mistake about it, if the tax cuts are allowed to expire, those 2 million jobs will be lost (and more) and tax revenues will go down while the deficit goes up.

[jwh_Denver]

"Under what conditions do you think we'd be more likely to have success in getting them to cut spending"

Meaningless question. They are not going to cut spending. Period.

[Wasanother]

"you nailed it Bush knows the next president will have plenty of deficit ammo to ram threw BIG TAX HIKES"

Good thinking Einstein. This is why he wants to make tax cuts permanent?
Fortunately for you, if the cost of living gets too much in your area you can just put some air in, back the truck up and go see cousin Earl. BTW, don't forget to unchain Fido off the back bumper.

[rolling_stone]

His tireless support of sensible tax relief for the American public

Yeah who is going to pay for 20 million illegals health care public schooling and social service? Sensible or idiotic?