Posted on 12/11/2010 11:13:29 AM PST by Libloather
Tax Cut Bill Loaded With Deals for Lobbyists, Lawmakers
Associated Press
Published December 11, 2010
WASHINGTON -- In the spirit of the holiday season, President Obama's tax-cut deal with Republicans is becoming a Christmas tree tinseled with gifts for lobbyists and lawmakers. But that hardly stopped the squabbling on Friday, with Bill Clinton even back at the White House pleading the president's case.
While Republicans sat back quietly, mostly pleased, Democrats and other liberals were going at each other ever so publicly. As Clinton lectured on Obama's behalf, Vermont independent Bernie Sanders castigated the agreement for the TV cameras in the mostly empty Senate chamber.
**SNIP**
The add-ons were being attached behind the scenes.
Almost $5 billion in subsidies for corn-based ethanol and a continuing tariff to protect against ethanol imports were wrapped up and placed on the tree Thursday night for farm-state lawmakers and agribusiness lobbyists. Environmentalists won more grants for developers of renewable energy, like wind and solar.
For urban lawmakers, there's a continuation of about-to-expire tax breaks that could save commuters who use mass transit about $1,000 a year. Other popular tax provisions aimed at increasing production of hybrid automobiles, biodiesel fuel, coal and energy-efficient household appliances would be extended through the end of 2011 under the new add-ons.
The package also includes an extension of two Gulf Coast tax incentive programs enacted after Hurricane Katrina to spur economic development in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
A problem too is the American people who think the new Congress has already taken office. They don’t know what a “lame duck” is, and they will see that nothing ever changes and may return to “democracy” in 2012.
When do we re-up??
I’ve heard that before this thing finally gets through (if it does) between the House, Senate and mark-up, there could be close to a trillion dollars in spending in this thing. Just the extra year for the 99’ers will be a pretty big tab ... and of course, when they score it, they don’t include the “administration fees” of the programs, either ... oh, the overtime, the added personnel, the additional lights, stationary, paperwork ... you know, the stuff private businesses have to worry about in the real world when they change something fundamental to the operation.
Could we knock it off with the $800 billion figure? That was arrived at by adding the amount that supposedly WON’T be collected as opposed to the tax rates being allowed to expire. Might as well say it costs $5 trillion because we AREN’T going to increases taxes by that much.
Pack rats in a frenzy.
Feeding on our children while they still can to get them through the coming political drought.
Scavengers every last one of them!
One blogger estimated the extra income coming from the rich with their new taxe increases to be $60 billion. If we have to pay $857 billion in extra spending to get $60 billion in revenue, obviously let’s kill the bill and start over next year.
Let’s us not forget that Sen. Mitch McConnel the Republican leader in the US Senate was the broker of this fine deal!
That's NEW spending. Please pay attention.
The Republicans need to vote no on this bill and wait until jan. We don’t need anymore spending THAT’S IT ENOUGH ALREADY.
No. We ultimately must balance the budget and pay back the debt. To do so, the federal government must collect MORE in taxes than the Congress spends. The Congress could trim their spending appetite $1.6 trillion AND NOT pass any tax cuts while spurning their propensity to spend to excess BUT still run a one hundred sixty-six billion seven hundred fifty-five million four hundred ninety five thousand dollar deficit (>$166 billion).
So Congress should trim $1766 billion in annual spending while NOT cutting taxes (making tax law applicable for 2010 permanent with revenue-neutral reforms to the tax code, preferably simplifying toward a flat tax). Alternatively, the Congress could raise taxes $800 billion per year and cut spending $966 billion per year.
In this situation, for some bizarre reason, no one in the Congress seems willing to consider seriously any considerable spending cuts. Given the
Rush Friday, 12/10/2010: “This has long since ceased to be a “Tax Bill”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2640672/posts?page=93#93
<>bttt
More: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2640849/posts?page=13#13
And there is more:
http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/news233.htm
“... the Democrats rammed through House Resolution 1752, the “’Martial Law’ / Same Day Authority Rule,” a measure that allows suspension of House rules to bring up bills with virtually no notice through Dec. 18.”
In the seventh paragraph in above link.
I don’t think I need to tell my fellow Freepers this, but just in case: “Call your Senator and Congress persons and let them know what you think about this crap!”
I spent about 30 minutes yesterday calling my Representatives and Senators and asked their staff why they were allowing the Dems to load this bill with port when they ran on CUTTING SPENDING, AND ALSO WHY THEY WEREN’T DEMANDING A TAX CUT IN THIS BILL! WE WON WITH A MANDATE FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!
When I tried calling Boehner’s DC office, got a message his voice mail was full. Hopefully he’s getting an earfull! Instead, i called one of his Ohio offices and let my feelings be known there.
If you haven’t already done so...please call Boehner and the Congressional representatives from your state!
As the Republicans were high-fiving each other over how they had out-foxed Obama with the knifty deal they cut on the tax extension agreement, Obama could be heard crying in the background:
“Oh, Please don’t throw me in that briar patch.”
yes. I’M out on this bill. I jumped to its defense but it stinks. No more unemployment welfare unless you do 40 hours of community service !! How could we be so stupid not to demand this for our money!!. We could actually fire thousand of government workers and do their jobs (like cutting grass or filing junk) with community service people. There is dignity in it!! They get off their free loading butts and do some work!! its really the answer. Vote no on the bill.
More thievery by the U.S. Government. Watch your wallet, you can’t trust those piggies.
The GOP NEVER learns.
Scrap it and begin anew in January.
S/B blame the deficits on the tax cuts.
What they need to do is cut taxes by $857 Billion, and cut spending by $2 trillion.
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