Posted on 12/19/2012 6:30:29 AM PST by crosshairs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Frustrated by their inability to wring more "fiscal cliff" concessions out of President Barack Obama, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives announced Tuesday night that they expect to pass their own tax bill as a backup plan to avert the tax hikes and automatic budget cuts set to occur in January.
No one expects the bill, which would extend low tax rates except on income of $1 million and above, to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. President Barack Obama's latest position puts the threshold for income tax hikes at $400,000. While the move, called "Plan B" by Republicans, may not prompt Obama to give further ground in his negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner, it could allow Republicans to argue they did what they could to stop tax hikes and the full impact of the "fiscal cliff," which the Congressional Budget Office and economists have said could trigger another recession.
"Why not put on the floor something that's what most Americans think the president is talking about, which is protecting from tax increases everybody but truly millionaires and billionaires?," said Republican Representative Pat Tiberi of Ohio. When it dies in the Senate, he said, "that's not our problem. We can't be held responsible for what the Senate does."
Polls have consistently suggested that the public is likely to blame Republicans for failure to reach a deal ahead of the December 31 deadline for action. After important concessions in recent days from both Obama and Boehner, Republicans expressed frustration that the president had not moved further. The White House seemed unconcerned by the Republican tactic, and stressed Obama's willingness to compromise further
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
"More"? Hilarious.
It is amazing Boehner has called Bronco's bluff twice and no one wants to even acknowledged that.
Boehner et al need to put Plan B in the hopper and dismiss for Christmas
then the GOP needs expert PR help to make sure the public is aware obama and Harry reid own the results of not signing it
The stuff I hear in the media staggers me. It's just lies for the Sheeple. There is no news in it. There is no truth in it.
Boehner proposed $1 million. Obama countered with $400,000.
I'm not sure Carney knows what "halfway" means.
then the GOP needs expert PR help to make sure the public is aware obama and Harry reid own the results of not signing it
Yeah but if they do that, they won't get invited to any of the cool DC Christmas parties!
Anyone voting against this latest house bill is voting for higher taxes on any income earned <$1M, which is 99.99% of us.
Will Reid even put it up for a vote?
This is actually a decent plan, if it is true. Pass the tax rate extention, with a bone to Obama and the Dems.
If the Senate and the executive branch don’t want that - then that is their problem.
Boehner needs to make a phone call to the guy who is in charge of the part of the federal government that controls spending and tax bills. Maybe that guy (what’s his name?) could help Boehner out and give him the tools he needs to take firm action.
Anyone voting against this latest house bill is voting for higher taxes on any income earned <$1M, which is 99.99% of us.
Will Reid even put it up for a vote?
“This is actually a decent plan, if it is true. Pass the tax rate extention, with a bone to Obama and the Dems.”
Just pass the tax rate extension for 6 months and go home for Christmas. Let Reid figure it out.
BOEHNER!
1) Pass your Plan “B” with NO tax increases on anyone and have ALL Republicans vote for it.
2) Bring Plan “A” legislation to the floor with tax rates unchanged except for those above $400,000 and have ALL REPUBLICANS vote PRESENT. Let Pelosi and her cabal vote for it and send it on.
3) Neither plan should have any of the other tax increases that are planned to go into effect. Current rates should all be extended.
4) Go home.
Considering that theOne’s starting point was $250,000, it needs to be much closer to $600,000 to look even halfway.
This is just GOP Kabuki theatre. They have already caved as usual and agreed to tax hikes now and spending cuts in the future which will never come.
Boehner should have required closing the EPA, Dept of Energy and Dept of Education as prerequisites for any increase in the debt ceiling as well as making the Bush tax cuts permanent. Let Barry take the blame for going over the cliff.
Plan B = Socialist Republicans. “taxes on those making 1 million or more....”
bingo....but the stupid party doesn’t understand this...just yesterday i received an email from the NY GOP proudly announcing they “endorse Rience Priebus for a second term!!”....
you should see my response to that email..
The MSM has always been left leaning, but in the past 10 years they've crossed the Rubicon. They're now a full blown wholly owned organ of the state.
The political left is on an accelerating slide as a result. We won't believe where we are in 5 years.
No pubbie will ever get the epa closed or any other aphabet agency closed down...but they CAN cut their funding massively.
I do not see that there is ANY will to do that by this house group. All they can seem to do is blather on then collapse like a deck of cards...
They should at a minumum vote to extend for 4 months the status quo and go home. Then when they come back do not select Boehner as speaker and fight harder.
IMHO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.