Retiring Sen. George Voinovich to oppose any extension of Bush-era tax cuts

WaPo ^ | 12/06/2010 | Felicia Sonmez

[OldDeckHand]

Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich is planning to oppose legislation that extends any of the Bush-era tax cuts, becoming the first senator to state his opposition to any extension even as the White House and congressional leaders are expected to reach a deal on the issue this week.

[OldDeckHand]

'According to his office, Voinovich has not released any statement on the Bush Tax Cuts."

That's hardly a denial. All that says is he hasn't released a statement, yet.

[Huskrrrr]

Another elitist bites the dust. Boo-hoo.

[Grunthor]

Why oh why is this crybaby still around?

[eleni121]

What a disappointment.

He makes a good point about tax reform - long overdue.

Scary times...

[carton253]

His office said he hadn’t made up his mind. So, instead of carping on this thread, give his office a call and let him know where you stand.

[Hojczyk]

I say let them fail and fix them next year....If Obama wants higher taxes lets have the fight...He would be toast in 2012 after raising taxes...

[biggredd1]

someone tell his office it is...TAX RATES! TAX RATES!! TAX RATES!! TAX RATES!! TAX RATES!! TAX RATES!! TAX RATES!!

[Opinionated Blowhard]

What did they call Bob Dole? The tax collector for the Welfare State? Looks like the crown has been passed.

[Eagle of Liberty]

I think he may be trying to get back at Obama, whom he probably blames for his defeat.

Not even close. Voiny did not run for re-election. It was an open seat and Rob Portman (R) HANDILY beat Lee Fisher (D). Voiny did not even like the tax cuts when they were legislated:

Voinovich standing firm on $350 billion tax-cut limit - APRIL 28, 2003

Despite a presidential visit to his state and a presidential admonition against "a little, bitty tax-relief package," Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio vowed Sunday to stand firm on limiting a tax cut to $350 billion.

"You got it. And anybody that knows George Voinovich knows that when I say something I mean it," the moderate Republican told NBC's Meet the Press.

President Bush originally proposed more than $700 billion in new tax cuts, including the elimination of the tax on dividends. The House trimmed the package to $550 billion, which the Bush administration said it could work with.

But in the Senate, Voinovich and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, refused to support any tax cut of more than $350 billion. Together with Republican Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island and John McCain of Arizona, who oppose tax cuts of any size, they have helped Democrats block Bush from getting his full package passed.

Bush promoted his tax plan in speeches last week in the Ohio cities of Canton and Lima, in other words, in Voinovich's political back yard.

"It's been interpreted as one of (Bush) coming to Ohio to try and pressure me to support 550 (billion-dollar tax cut) when he knows that I'm locked in at 350 (billion dollars)," Voinovich said. "I think the timing of it made it look bad, in terms of his trying to put some pressure on me. I don't believe that's what he had in mind, but it certainly has been interpreted that way in our state."

Voinovich said a $550 billion cut would be "fiscally irresponsible ... with the debt we're carrying and the uncertainty -- we really don't know yet how much more the Iraq war costs."

[Eagle of Liberty]

According to his office, Voinovich has not released any statement on the Bush Tax Cuts.

Will be calling as well.

[carton253]

someone tell his office

I think that is a job for biggredd1.

[pabianice]

Every passing day left to this poisonous Congress in which the loathsome Dems are stopped from further treason, the better, I say!

[Dizzy Lizzy]

I really can’t wait until he is replaced by Portman!

[cotton1706]

Why is this a suprise?? He’s one of the people that caused them to have to expire in the first place.

[Cicero]

Well, it’s just speculation. But why didn’t Voinovitch run for re-election? Presumably because even a jerk like him realized that he was unlikely to get back in. Like many others, he let himself get sucked too far to the left because he mistakenly thought that was the popular thing to do.

[TribalPrincess2U]

BUSH TAX CUTS WIN.

OBAMA TAX HIKES LOSE.

Now get out!