WSJ SLAMS House Republicans For Payroll Tax Cut Debacle, Says ...Throwing 2012 Election To Obama

Business Insider ^ | Dec. 21, 2011 | Zeke Miller

[Qbert]

The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board is slamming House Republicans today for their hard-line position on the payroll tax cut, writing that GOP lawmakers are throwing the 2012 election to President Barack Obama before it even begins.

House Republicans are refusing to pass the bipartisan two-month extension of the tax cut that passed the Senate on Saturday, demanding a year-long increase. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he'll only reopen negotiations on a longer deal once the House passes the Senate bill — and removes the immediate threat of a tax increase for most Americans.

[Snip]

The Journal's advice: Pass the tax cut — and fast:

At this stage, Republicans would do best to cut their losses and find a way to extend the payroll holiday quickly. Then go home and return in January with a united House-Senate strategy that forces Democrats to make specific policy choices that highlight the differences between the parties on spending, taxes and regulation. Wisconsin freshman Senator Ron Johnson has been floating a useful agenda for such a strategy. The alternative is more chaotic retreat and the return of all-Democratic rule.

The Journal's criticism of Boehner will only strengthen the Democratic position, and is sure to be trotted out by Democrats and even some Republicans to pressure the Speaker to pass the bill — and put an end to the legislative nightmare. That said, Boehner hasn't caved to Democrats yet, and is likely to take these negotiations up to the brink.

[bkepley]

Tell that to the payroll processors whose systems are designed to handle different tax rates within the same fiscal quarter.

Must be a very large constituency I guess.

[hosepipe]

WSJ leans leftist but sometimes looses its grip and falls down..
but sometimes they back into something conservative and trip.. and fall down..

WSJ spends a lot of time on their Knees.. quite handy to democrat Presidents..

[apillar]

Yawn, Like anybody will even remember in 10 months that Republicans held up this for a few weeks to get a better deal, let alone base their vote on it over Obamacare or anything else. Once the bill is finally signed, even if its a few weeks or months late, the only thing people will remember is it passed.

[SJSAMPLE]

The payroll tax cuts are NOT the way to go about relieving the tax burden on the middle class, or anyone else.

It robs from SS payments without making the necessary cuts to SS.

And two months is a joke.
Good luck reprogramming all the payroll systems to accomodate this stupidity.

[Truth29]

This bill also extends unemployment compensation. Too many people want free government stuff and don't want to pay for it. If we have reached the tipping point, then it is just a matter of quickly we can look to a Road Warrior type future with withdrawal of government order from much of society because of bankruptcy.

[McGruff]

Stand your ground men!

[Qbert]

"Why is the House at fault? A two month extension is ridiculous. It might as well be a 2 week extension or maybe the WSJ would be happy with a 2 day weekend extension."

Yep. And notice how the report by payroll processors, that a two-month extension would be simply unworkable, has been completely disregarded by the WSJ and everybody slamming the House Republicans?...

[TheLawyerFormerlyKnownAsAl]

What in the world has happened to the WSJ??

Murdoch

[jersey117]

It might as well be a 2 week extension or maybe the WSJ would be happy with a 2 day weekend extension.

Exactly. If it's so important why not make it 6 months or a year? This is nothing more than the rats posturing, as usual.

[cp124]

The WSJ is right. Nothing good could possibly come from refusing to pass the extension.

Why. So the Democrats can do this every two months until the election? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

[sanjuanbob]

IE it’s a social security cut. C’mon repubs.

---

Exactly...all this nonsense does is give Obama some twisted talking point about repubs rejecting a middle class tax cut.
Sure nice when the press is all in your camp. Repubs have to get out their check books and have ads on every network to educate the sheeple. Where my wife works, the young people don’t know anything other than what they see on Jon Stewart, alphabet networks or newspaper headlines. Education is power; time to go back to basics and dethrone and debunk Obama.

[Qbert]

“What in the world has happened to the WSJ?? Are they nuts?”

They are a bunch of Corporatists, and they want to set this up so that they can get their guy the nomination.

[allmendream]

Social Security funding is through taxes. All funding “for” Social Security goes into the general fund. All funds paid out to Social Security recipients go out of the general fund. Do you also think there is a “lockbox”?

[bkepley]

Why. So the Democrats can do this every two months until the election? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

It would certainly not be Republicans shooting themselves in the foot. Republicans should be about keeping taxes low. And anyway...this mess was not all Democrat doing. There are 47 Republican Senators if I'm not mistaken.

[mrsmith]

“return in January with a united House-Senate strategy that forces Democrats to make specific policy choices...”

LOL!

In January the Dems will hold all the cards and will get a tax increase “on the rich” to pay for the payroll tax cut.

Do it now.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"At this stage, Republicans would do best to cut their losses and find a way to extend the payroll holiday quickly. Then go home and return in January with a united House-Senate strategy that forces Democrats to make specific policy choices that highlight the differences between the parties on spending, taxes and regulation. Wisconsin freshman Senator Ron Johnson has been floating a useful agenda for such a strategy. The alternative is more chaotic retreat and the return of all-Democratic rule. The Journal's criticism of Boehner will only strengthen the Democratic position, and is sure to be trotted out by Democrats and even some Republicans to pressure the Speaker to pass the bill — and put an end to the legislative nightmare. That said, Boehner hasn't caved to Democrats yet, and is likely to take these negotiations up to the brink."

I am not sure how having this lapse for a week or two in January would bring the world to an end politically, however it all depends on how Boehner and house members can play this up on TV calling Obama and the Senate back versus Obama who is accusing them of tanking the economy on purpose.

Boehner made the mistake of agreeing to the Senate bill, or at least looking like he did only to come back to a rebellion making him look weak and playing into Democrat talking points. That is what makes me think he will still cave in the end.

[zerosix]

Don't you just love it!

RINOs giving "sage advice" to conservatives on how to beat liberals.

[Sudetenland]

This was a battle lost at the very beginning. And it was certainly lost the moment McConnell and the spineless Republicans in the Senate agreed to the compromise.

This bunch of Republicans in the House are absolutely tone deaf when it comes to politics. The public relations battle was lost. Their only choice was to give the Democrats their victory and take the pipeline.

Stupid, stupid, stupid and they have done more damage to the Republican hopes in November than anything any of the candidate could do.

[Qbert]

"And why aren’t the Republicans screaming about how Obama is taking funds from social security~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with this ‘tax cut’

Geez Boehner is stupid if he can’t bat this one out of the park. Would someone please give him a clue?

I think he's secretly terrified that Obama will get angry if he does...

[bkepley]

The payroll tax cuts are NOT the way to go about relieving the tax burden on the middle class, or anyone else. It robs from SS payments without making the necessary cuts to SS. And two months is a joke. Good luck reprogramming all the payroll systems to accomodate this stupidity.

Yeah, splain that to the no-nothings. If taxes go up and the independents don't blame the Republicans I take it all back.