Does GOP Hold Political High Card On Bush Tax Cut Debate?
Both political parties appear ready to square off over of extending the Bush tax cuts when the Senate takes up the issue later this month, but Republicans may have the upper hand in the debate according to the latest results of the latest National Journal Political Insiders Poll.
When asked what the best political outcome was for their own party on the tax cut issue, 59% of the 94 Democratic Insiders who responded to the poll this week said extending the tax cuts before the election "only for families earning less than $250,000." Many Democrats supporting this position were eager for making the point of whose side they're not on. "It is a good debate to have just before the election: Force the R's to embrace tax cuts for the wealthy and Wall Street big shots."
But at the same time, the rest of the Democratic Insiders didn't have an appetite for a fight and embraced one of three other options: extending the tax cuts for everyone before the election (10%), temporarily extending the tax cuts for a year for everyone (23%), or kicking the issue over to a lame duck session of Congress (9%). And Democrats will need pretty solid unity of purpose if they're going to be able to overcome determined GOP opposition in the Senate and House to raising any taxes.
Ironically, although Republicans have decried the idea of a lame duck session of Congress--warning that it would be a last-gasp for a Democratic majority to push through controversial pieces of legislation before presumably more Republicans were sworn in January--59% of the 95 GOP Insiders who responded said that would be the best political outcome for them in the debate of extending the Bush cuts. Why? Because most Republicans think they will benefit from irresolution on the tax cuts. As one GOP insider bluntly put it, "Bad for America, but good for Republicans heading into November, as the D's seem out of touch." Echoed another, "We need to keep this issue on the table."
While 19% of the GOP Insiders said they would back a permanent extension for everyone, it's very hard to imagine many Congressional Democrats or President Obama, capitulating to that position before the election. That would be a huge downer for the Democratic base and the party already has an enthusiasm deficit compared to rank and file Republicans who can't wait to cast ballots in November. 7% of GOP Insiders said they'd like to see tax cuts only extended for families earning less than $250,000 but their comments betrayed their real motives--they think that would brand Democrats as tax raisers. Only 12% of the GOP Insiders favored what's probably the only plausible compromise, a temporary extension for everyone. To many Democrats, especially some of the 59% who want a debate with a tinge of class warfare, even that might look like surrender. And if there's no compromise, the issue on extending the Bush tax cuts will almost certainly get taken up in a lame duck session after the election.
For all the poll results and comments click here.
"What`s with GOP , we need stop increasing our dept.lets start by letting the bush tax cuts for the rich expire!"
Enough with the tax cuts for the wealthy orthe fealthy as they have been getting tax cuts for way to long like the past 10 years!! Extending tax cuts for the wealthy isnt going to create any more4 jobs with the cuts or without them. Lets get real for a change!!Tyhey are only interested in creating jobs for those people south of the BORDER!! CHEAP LABOR that is!!Just another con job!!
Only the wealthy have benefitted from the Bush tax cuts; those of us who make less than $250,000 per year have not benefitted at all; we have made the Bush tax cuts possible. Also, the wealthy will not stop spending as everyone thinks. Sales figures for the really expensive department store are up by as much as 9%. It's Target and WalMart that are suffering. Middle class Americans have been brainwashed by Sarah Palin and other GOP hype.
Thanks for the Information, thanks for the great Article. Also check these nice Site. estate agents belfast
Perhaps if the first two posters would attempt to obtain an education and improve their spelling and grammer skills they might make more than $250K a year. We wouldn't want to increase our "dept" and give an unfair advantage to the "fealthy" rich.
Just in case you are wondering, I do make more than $250K per year and the government already taxes me to death. I don't need Obama to redistribute my wealth to anyone!
How do you expect to fund the federal government when 50 percent of americans don't pay a dime of federal taxes!