AP source: Boehner offers millionaire tax hike ( RINO Capitulation )

WASHINGTON (AP) — Signaling new movement in "fiscal cliff" talks, House Speaker John Boehner has proposed raising the top rate for earners making more than $1 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said. President Barack Obama, who wants higher top rates for households earning more than $250,000, has not accepted the offer, this person said.

The proposal, however, indicated progress in talks that had appeared stalled. The person would only discuss the plan on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Actually a surprisingly shrewd move in my view, and I’m not a fan of Boehner at all. But he can toss this out there, and it’s purely for rhetorical/political purposes. The problem is supposedly that Repub’s are holding up everything in order to protect the rich. So Boehner says “OK, but $250K ain’t rich, $1 mil is”. But anyone making a mil a year can easily shift around their income so as to be completely unaffected by a relatively small change in their tax rate. Nobody’s going to pay a lot more in taxes because of this, and that’s why Obama won’t accept it. But if Obama starts whining that “this will hardly help with the budget at all,” Boehner gets to laugh in his face and say, “neither does raising it on 250K and above”. But if it ends up being just prelude to caving all the way to 250K, then it’s still a loser though, and knowing Boehner, I have to think that might be a likely scenario.

I'm with you - bumping the "offered" amount to $1 mil also demonstrates that what they want to do is raise the numbers of people paying higher taxes while insulating their voting base from paying any taxes. Until even the lowest wage earners pay some sort of taxes (beyond the "benefits" deductions), they will never have the incentive to lower spending.

He’s getting #%*$ed. He’s giving in on tax hikes for the wealthy to prevent tax hikes on the middle class and defense cuts come January 1. It sucks. It makes Dems feel good but doesn’t help the country one bit.

Tax hikes on the "rich" would've come one way or the other. There was no avoiding it. Hopefully the concession that Boehner gave on this will give him some leverage to stand firm on the Assault Weapons Ban that is right around the corner.

They have allowed the Dems to frame the issue.

The issue is overspending. We will spend less and live within our means - whether we assent to it or not. We can not continue such irresponsible financial behavior.

If Beohner had any wits he would demand spending cuts - actual cuts, not decreases in the increase - before agreeing to any tax increases.

You are spot-on. At end of the day this is all theatre and artificial drama. boehner and o will slow dance until the last minute and then with trumpets blaring, announce a “bi-partaisan” agreement has been reached and the country has been saved. But what about tomorrow, and next week...we will still have the same debt and no leadership..we are doomed!

If Beohner had any wits he would demand spending cuts - actual cuts, not decreases in the increase - before agreeing to any tax increases.

He lacks courage, as do most Republicans.

My experience in life tells me that people fear unpopularity more than almost anything.

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