You do realize, don't you, that it still is the lame duck Congress. The one with only 42 Republican Senators and a +76 seat majority Democrat House. Oh, and a Democrat President.
What makes you so sure that, without "the other garbage", the tax bill gets passed.
McClintock, who is as conservative as we are, and knows more about this issue than either of us, explained the situation quite clearly.
1. No UI extension (amounting to only 15% of the total) meant no tax bill. And there was no certainty that a GOP House could get a retroactive tax cut through both the Senate and the President next year. And, in any event, the benefit would come too late to impact the economy in 2011. The country and the economy desperately needed the tax extension so as not to fall off a cliff. It was best for the country that there be an extension now!
2. While the House will need both the Senate and the President to pass legislation next year, the House can -- by itself -- act to control spending. They got the tax bill now...they can start slashing spending next month.
Why take an unnecessary chance with such a delicate economy? Why risk losing even more jobs?
In my opinion, the GOP's actions were prudent and appropriate, under the circumstances -- with the best outcome for the country as a whole. Why play political games with that?
What makes you so sure that, without “the other garbage”, the tax bill gets passed.
It doesn’t need to pass before the next Congress. Once the new Congress is seated, the GOP has a stronger hand. Besides, do you really think the Dems would want to take the blame for the tax increase?
While the House will need both the Senate and the President to pass legislation next year, the House can — by itself — act to control spending. They got the tax bill now...they can start slashing spending next month.
True, but I’ve never seen spending get cut by a single penny.