Posted on 12/11/2010 6:19:43 AM PST by Hojczyk
For several years, I have assumed that my taxes, and those of many millions of Americans, would skyrocket in 2011. So when I first learned the terms of the compromise between the President and the Republican leadership--most of the Bush-era tax rates made permanent, tax rates for upper-income taxpayers extended for two years, a one-year two percent payroll tax holiday, long a favorite conservative policy--I thought, and wrote, that it was an excellent deal for conservatives.
Since then, however, the deal has steadily worsened, to the point where even the Associated Press says that "Add-ons turn tax cut bill into 'Christmas tree.'" The AP itemizes some of the ornaments on the tree:
The tax deal, reached behind the scenes and still informal, now includes ethanol subsidies for rural folks, commuter tax breaks for their cousins in the cities and suburbs and wind and solar grants for the environmentalists--all aimed at winning votes, particularly from reluctant Democrats. ...
Almost $5 billion in subsidies for corn-based ethanol and a continuing tariff to protect against ethanol imports were wrapped up and placed on the tree Thursday night for farm-state lawmakers and agribusiness lobbyists. Environmentalists won more grants for developers of renewable energy, like wind and solar.
For urban lawmakers, there's a continuation of about-to-expire tax breaks that could save commuters who use mass transit about $1,000 a year. Other popular tax provisions aimed at increasing production of hybrid automobiles, biodiesel fuel, coal and energy-efficient household appliances would be extended through the end of 2011 under the new add-ons.
The package also includes an extension of two Gulf Coast tax incentive programs enacted after Hurricane Katrina to spur economic development in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
President Obama correctly noted yesterday that the Democrats shouldn't be up in arms because the bill hasn't actually been written yet. That's true, and, in traditional Washington fashion, it is a safe prediction that the bill once reduced to writing will include any number of provisions that were not part of the original deal. I don't pretend to know how the politics of a fallen-apart agreement might flop, but if the Democrats really do turn the original agreement in principle into a Christmas tree, all bets are off. I, for one, would certainly re-think my original support.
A Washington insider told me today that he thinks the GOP should have held out for a better deal:
The serious Dems in town -- including the ones at the WH -- know that they'll get a much worse deal after GOP takes over in January -- with fewer D senators and a Boehner House, a retroactive extension of the cuts would pass that probably didn't include as generous unemployment provisions. The liberals just need a little longer to vent their frustrations...
I wouldn't say it publicly, but R's should have held out longer -- they had Obama right where they wanted him. He wouldn't have, couldn't have, let the middle class tax cuts expire. The negotiators gave away more than they needed to...and now the debt will be even bigger, which should be a bigger disappointment than it is.
I still stand behind the original agreement as reported, but if the legislation as written by the Dems is, in fact, a Christmas tree, then forget it. Let's take our chances in January.
Just fillerbuster until Jan 4.
And yet, there on my T.V. screen this morning was smilin’ “so-called conservative” Mike Huckabee, (God Bless him!) praising this as “the best we could do.’ and urging it’s passage.
Yesterday we had the original Dope from Hope (Bubba Clinton) taking over the Presidency from the pitiful Usurper, and today we have the fat version of the Dope from Hope (HuckaHillbilly) sayin’ “I got your back.”
Pathetic.
Why would anyone support the “deal” even before it became a “Christmas tree”?
Extending the free money giveaway and increasing the death tax simply for a temporary extension of existing tax rates???
I keep hearing the msm, and now clinton, saying the dems would get a worse deal after the repubs take power...so why are we trying to help them get a better deal now?
No extension of UI!
No massive increase in the death tax!
Make the Bush tax cuts permanent!
Make it all retroactive to January 1st!
If they pass it with all these earmarks, then it is just “business as usual”. There is a time to take a stand and stop “compromising”. EVERY TIME ANY compromise is made, the system moves LEFT. The only compromise I am insterested in is one that STAYS the line or moves RIGHT. I agree, let’s take our chances in January. THIS is the place to stay “put”.
I agree, we need to scrap it.
Boener should make a public announcement that the deal will pass in January, no tax hikes, as agreed. Let is be known that the president negotiated this deal and he will not let Pelosi corrupt it in her final weeks.
There is no longer a need to bend over for Pelosi. Those days are gone. She should be packing her crap, not spending money.
I vote with you, scrap it a begin the renovation, or admit this is business as usual.
This ‘tree’ is getting crappier and crappier by the day.
DeMint is right.
These 'deals' are nothing more than business as usual, and it stinks.
Agreed. No extra spending. The deal should be the tax rates, the benefits nad if necessary the payroll tax holiday, nothing else. No extra “stimulus”. And the GOP should come up with a spending bill that takes whatever the amount is for the benefits, doubles it and cuts it. Even if it goes into jan they could get it done in Jan soon enough and make it retro active that it wouldn’t really change all that much.
If not, let Obama suffer the consequences of nothing.
The problem with the deal is, it was a deal with a democrat.
With democrats, a hard-fought compromise is one where you give up lots, and when you are done, they THEN say “Ok, now we’ll modify the deal until we like it”.
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