Posted on 04/19/2018 9:08:26 AM PDT by jazusamo
One of the Left's favorite anti-tax reform tactics involved loudly griping about how the law's corporate tax cuts were permanent (there's a good economic argument for that, of course), whereas the tax cuts for individuals and families are set to expire -- which is where the misleading "tax increase" talking point comes from. Those taxes would only increase if Congress allows them to, and based on recent history and the tough political dynamics, the likelihood of reversing all or most of the recently-enacted tax reductions is slim to none. Nevertheless, Democrats carried on as if Republicans were deliberately targeting taxpayers with a hike down the road, demanding that the tax cuts be made permanent. They knew full well that the GOP was playing a budgetary game in order to shoehorn their bill through under "reconciliation," which allows for passage with a simple majority in the US Senate. The on-paper sunsetting of the new rates was necessary to make the math work, pure and simple. In an effort to exploit this technicality, Democrats called up a vote to extend the middle class tax cuts indefinitely, which Republicans defeated for procedural reasons. The ploy succeeded, handing Democrats a campaign-ready claim about (eventual and unlikely) GOP tax increases. Soon after passage, National Review's Rich Lowry urged GOP leaders to call their opponents' bluff:
"First thing Republicans should do when they are back is make Democrats vote on extending all the middle-class tax cuts"
A leading Democratic criticism of the tax bill is that the middle-class tax cuts expire. This should be very easy to remedy — Republicans should make the Democrats vote on extending them as soon as Congress comes back next year. If Democrats don’t go back on what they’ve been saying about how terrible it is that these tax cuts are temporary, passage of an extension should be a big, bipartisan accomplishment in the new year that everyone can feel good about.
Well, it may not have been the very first thing on the Republicans' agenda this year, but it looks like Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are gearing up to heed this advice. First, from the House side :
The House will vote this year to make individual tax cuts permanent, Speaker Paul Ryan said Tuesday. Ryan, R-Wis., didn’t provide a date, but said “we fully intend,” to pass legislation that would make permanent the reduction in individual tax rates included in the new comprehensive tax reform law. “That is something we will be acting on later this year,” Ryan said...Republicans will use the tax vote later this year pressure Democrats closer to the midterm elections, according to Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist.
Why, that almost sounds like crafty strategic thinking. Meanwhile, over in the Senate :
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is weighing whether to force a vote on making the GOP's temporary tax cuts for individuals permanent. The Kentucky Republican told reporters Tuesday the chamber "may" hold a vote this year on extending the tax cuts. While the 2017 law provided permanent tax cuts on corporations, tax cuts for regular people expire in 2027 due to Senate rule constraints..."If they are interested in making the individual rates permanent that’s something we ought to take a look at. I don’t know why we wouldn’t want to do that," McConnell said...Even if Democrats won't support the proposal, such a vote may have political utility after Senate Democrats opposed last year's tax measure. Ten Democrats are up for reelection this year in states that President Donald Trump won, and voting against tax cuts a second time could be fodder for Republicans looking to pick up Senate seats.
They wouldn't merely be voting against tax cuts for a second time ( every last Democrat in Congress voted 'no' on the succeeding tax reform law), they'd be voting explicitly against the very middle class tax cuts they'd previously complained didn't go far enough. And if they flip-flop to 'yes,' they'd risk angering their resistance-minded base while again affirming the Republican point that their law did, in fact, slash taxes for middle income families. Quite the self-inflicted dilemma. I'll leave you with McConnell wryly attacking Democrats for attending a left-wing rally to repeal tax reform earlier this week. That's what hardcore partisan tribalism requires of them, of course, but they were protesting a law that is undeniably working and boosting the US economy and employment picture . Their previous demagoguery has been exposed by reality , yet they keep digging:
“I noticed that a number of my Democratic colleagues attended a small protest rally yesterday. It was right here, on the Capitol grounds. Apparently it was put on by a number of left-wing pressure groups, including MoveOn.org, Planned Parenthood, and Big Labor. So what were they protesting? What outrage brought leading Democrats to join this protest on the East Front of the Capitol? Turns out, it was the fact that Republicans let middle-class families and American small business keep more of their own money. That’s right. Democrats are rallying to repeal your tax cuts. Never mind that our pro-growth tax reform has led to thousand-dollar bonuses, pay raises, educational opportunities or other new benefits for millions of Americans. Democrats still want to repeal it. Never mind the new estimate that says tax reform will yield more than a million new jobs in the next decade. Or the fact that jobless claims are at their lowest level since 1973. No amount of good news will shake Democrats’ confidence that they know how to spend the American people’s money better than the American people."
McConnell's taciturn demeanor and dull delivery takes some of the bite out of this counterpunch, but it's really strong messaging that other Republicans should echo.
Just couldn’t get more interesting. Lotta Dems gotta lotta raises and lotta Dems made a sh**load of money in the market.
I Agree! CAL the DUMBs BLUFF!
If Republicans think they are going to win because of the tax cuts they are delusional.
Their constant avoidance of support for POTUS MORE than outweighs those cuts.
Their only hope is to get on the Trump Train and align themselves firmly against the Swamp.
Otherwise they will be replaced with overt commies as Trump voters stay home.
No Republican can be elected if they are aligned against Trump.
Exceptionally stupid idea.
Manchin, Heitcamp, Tester and everyone else in a red district will vote to make it permanent, thus removing the Republicans’best line of attack - that they wouldn’t vote for tax cuts.
The Dems will come up with enough votes to block it, however.
They’ll wait until next session of Congress to push this forward, when, hopefully they’re in the minority. They’ll do what they did with DeathCare - pass bills that they know will fail.
Sorry, we’ve seen that played out over and over. Not going to play the fool anymore.
[No Republican can be elected if they are aligned against Trump.]
Exactly. As Ed Rollins said, Trump IS the GOP. He showed the GOP how to win a presidency in todays political climate and demographics on a virtual shoestring. These fools better get behind him.
...(there’s a good economic argument for that, of course)...
(there’s a good SOCIALIST economic argument for that, of course),
Voting for or against tax cuts doesn’t hurt Democrats. Everyone is against high taxes. Everyone wants more services. A win win for them.
Support Free Republic, Folks!
I say take advantage of the momentum and pile on. Have an open discussion on what is the best rate for growth and security. Then find a way to go there.
Otherwise they will be replaced with overt commies as Trump voters stay home.
—
Otherwise they will be replaced as Trump voters stay home allowing overt commies to take over America; once again proving how politically stupid they are. Democrats Rejoice!! And go on to make sure that the deplorables never, never and absolutely never, can never come to power again not ever!
“If Republicans think they are going to win because of the tax cuts they are delusional.”
You are correct. They campaigned on repeal of Obamacare. They failed and have not revived repeal.
They campaigned on “border control” and failed to fund the wall.
They campaigned on ending funding of Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood is fully funded.
They campaigned on fiscal responsibility. The budgeting process remains a joke with the House and Senate under Republican control. Congress won’t pass a real budget on time, favoring the Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid omnibus bloated spending bills fully funding every liberal program and ensuring trillion dollar deficits as far as we can project into the future.
The GOP Congress has brought us endless investigations that go nowhere.
The GOP Senate has failed to confirm all of Trump’s appointments, resulting in Obama holdovers remaining in key positions in the federal bureaucracy.
The GOP Congress constantly criticizes a GOP president who is prepared to pass their stated agenda. All they have to do is pass the legislation. He has signed every bill they passed, including the disgraceful omnibus budget bill.
It appears the GOP Congress is intent on angering the GOP conservative voting base and handing control of Congress back to the Democrats. Then they can blame the president they’ve failed to support and pile on to support the Democrats when Trump is impeached.
[No Republican can be elected if they are aligned against Trump.]
—
Better Democrats than Republicans not aligned with DJT - because we are throwing a political fit. So what if the 1 & 2 Amendments are ruled void, we stood our ground and proved a point! So there!
Now if only we can convince the guards to up our rations ...
Eliminate taxes all together. The Dems will be flabbergasted.
This is so easy a caveman could do it.
Bursts of mass suicide.
I think this was proposed here on FR and by any number of pundits about a day after the Dems wailed that the tax cuts were temporary.
Remember, the GOP is called the Stupid Party for a reason.
Heck, they still haven’t fixed the ridiculous “Donut Hole” in GW Bush’s Medicare Part D Bill.
The GOP had better wrap up all their Business by November. Once the Rats get the House back, MAGA will become NADA.
The republicant’s don’t have the spine.
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.
