[okie01]

The thing that drives me up the wall is the STRUCTURE of the GWB taxcuts-—designed to sunset after ten years. If it weren’t for that sunsetting feature, the GWB tax rates could stay in effect without much effort.

Do you understand why the Bush Tax Cuts sunsetted?

Permanent tax cuts are subject to a filibuster in the Senate -- requiring at least sixty votes for passage.

Temporary tax cuts, however, may be passed under "budget reconciliation" -- which requires only a simple majority. However, there is a ten-yer limit on "temporary" measures.

At the time, recall that the Senate was split 50-50, with VP Dick Cheney providing the 51st vote. With 50 Democrat Senators, led by Tom Daschle, no way the Bush tax cuts would've passed under the regular rules of procedure.

Our mistake wasn't in passing the Bush Tax Cuts on a temporary basis in the first place, it was letting the Democrats be in charge ten years later.

[Stat-boy]

Thanks for explaining. I have wondered why they were 10-year tax cuts.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Yes I do remember all of that. And you are right. The only way to get the taxcuts enacted at all was to put a sunset feature on them.

Doesn’t that REALLY SUCK????? Taxcuts are enacted to last only temporarily-——why can’t such a principle ever apply to SPENDING??????