Posted on 07/19/2009 9:22:11 PM PDT by Steelfish
JULY 20, 2009
Democrats' New Worry: Their Own Rich Voters
JONATHAN WEISMAN
A group of Democrats elected in recent years from some of the country's richest congressional districts have emerged as a stumbling block to raising taxes on the wealthy to pay for President Barack Obama's ambitious health-care overhaul just as the plan has begun to meet increasing resistance over its cost.
Friday, two freshmen representatives -- Dina Titus, from suburban Las Vegas, and Colorado's Jared Polis, representing Boulder, Vail and some of the tonier suburbs of Denver -- joined Republicans to vote against Mr. Obama's top-priority health-care overhaul when it faced a vote in their House Education and Labor Committee.
One reason was a one-percentage point-surtax on couples earning between $350,000 and $500,000 -- gradually increasing to 5.4 percentage points on earnings more than $1 million -- to pay for it.
The bill passed the committee anyway, but if the number of Democratic defectors grows it could pose a serious obstacle to the president.
Also on Friday a busload of freshmen Democrats went to the White House to plead their case against sharp tax increases with the president and his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.
The organizer was Rep. Gerald Connolly, the president of the freshman class whose Northern Virginia district is the richest in the U.S. as measured by median household income.
"There could come a time," said Rep. Michael McMahon, a freshman Democrat from New York City's borough of Staten Island, when Democrats are in open rebellion. "We will certainly see in the next few weeks where we are going."
Election gains in some of these affluent regions have helped give Democrats big majorities in the House and Senate.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Of the 25 richest districts, 14 are represented by Democrats, according to Congressional Quarterly. In 1995, Democrats represented just five of those districts.
Recently elected Democrats from higher-income areas also have been cautious about legislation that would make it easier for labor unions to organize, and about legislation imposing tough new rules on banks.
Republicans have savaged the new Democrats for supporting legislation to stem global warming by capping greenhouse-gas emissions, then forcing polluters to purchase and trade emissions credits -- a "cap and tax," the GOP says.
But planned tax increases are likely the source of the toughest intra-Democratic tensions. The president wants to allow George W. Bush's income-tax cuts to expire in 2011 for families earning at least $250,000 and to stop the estate tax from being repealed next year.
Mr. Obama also campaigned on putting an additional payroll tax of two to four percentage points on incomes above $250,000 to help put Social Security back on solid footing.
As the president confronts a surging budget deficit and presses his ambitious agenda, all those tax increases may be necessary to make ends meet.
While looking at a website, I picked up this quote from the only Dem in the Oklahoma delegation:
Noted Quote: Obama ‘is very unpopular’
“Barack Obama is very unpopular. He got 34 percent of the vote statewide, and less in our district. If he were to run for re-election today, I bet it would be even worse.” ~ Democratic Congressman Dan Boren, as quoted in the Oklahoma Gazette.
Why did these constituents vote for Bambi and ‘Rat congresscritters in the first place?
More money than sense, obviously.
And yet these are the same bastards who foisted 0 upon us and are now squealing like a wounded pig after having helped him amass a campaign war chest of nearly $900m.
A couple of things here Ms dumbass.
First, you WERE asked to make that vote. And it was after you told your constituents you would not vote to raise their taxes.
Second, what's the point in politically empowering women, if they cave under pressure the first time a man wags his .... at them. Dumbass.
Exactly! What did they expect?
Not you, Steelfish. I'm talking about the voters who helped elect this piece of trash sitting in our White house.
Oh, oh well to do liberals are getting upset with the liar.
Excerpt:
Election gains in some of these affluent regions have helped give Democrats big majorities in the House and Senate. Of the 25 richest districts, 14 are represented by Democrats, according to Congressional Quarterly. In 1995, Democrats represented just five of those districts.
Recently elected Democrats from higher-income areas also have been cautious about legislation that would make it easier for labor unions to organize, and about legislation imposing tough new rules on banks. Republicans have savaged the new Democrats for supporting legislation to stem global warming by capping greenhouse-gas emissions, then forcing polluters to purchase and trade emissions credits — a “cap and tax,” the GOP says.
But planned tax increases are likely the source of the toughest intra-Democratic tensions. The president wants to allow George W. Bush’s income-tax cuts to expire in 2011 for families earning at least $250,000 and to stop the estate tax from being repealed next year. Mr. Obama also campaigned on putting an additional payroll tax of two to four percentage points on incomes above $250,000 to help put Social Security back on solid footing. As the president confronts a surging budget deficit and presses his ambitious agenda, all those tax increases may be necessary to make ends meet.
All together, Democratic plans could push the top tax rate to 47%, the highest level since the tax code was rewritten in 1986.
Exactly, well said!
roflol! Well, I would be roflol if it wasn't so damned serious!
I guess they forgot about this! They were partying their fat *sses off because a BLACK MAN was elected President. Remember?!
Rihanna plans to rock the nation’s capital on President-elect Barack Obama’s Inauguration Night (who got the crap beat out of her by her rapper 'boyfriend')
Pary on, fat cats!
If Ms. Dumbass had the integrity to stick with her promise, she would still be in the house. But, I shake my head too though because this so dreadfully serious.
Two face son’s of b**ch liberals. I guess they are worried about those family foundations that Madoff investors were using to dodge taxes. Maybe they will not hold up when O raise the wealthy libs taxes.
I saw a good bumper sticker today “Don’t blame me - I voted against socialism.”
Note they did not say they voted for stinking RINO Juan McLame.
The pic just send my blood pressure up. Gallup says: white, unmarried, single, widowed or divorced women went overwhelmingly for 0! I think you’ll find all of that category in the pic.
Party on you jaw droppingly brain dead disgusting fools, party on.
The thing they don’t seem to understand is if Obama will screw us; he will screw them.
Republicans are the party of the rich, you know.
Unfortunately they don’t mind getting screwed so long as 0 is pro-abortion.
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.