Posted on 11/08/2010 4:56:48 PM PST by Utah Girl
Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah will likely become the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee early next year. From that perch, hell oversee the GOPs tax-writing policy in the upper chamber. Before then, however, Hatch is keeping busy: In coming weeks, he will be one of the leading figures in the battle over extending Bush-era tax rates, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
As he looks ahead, Hatch predicts that there could be a reasonable compromise with Democrats and the White House. He urges the president to come in good faith to the negotiating table, and to do this straight up and fair, without demagoguery or phony class warfare. While Hatch would like to see the entire package of tax cuts made permanent, he tells us that he could support a measure that extends all tax relief for at least the next three to five years.
If Democrats decide to play politics, theyll try to make some tax cuts last longer than others, letting some expire in two or three years, Hatch cautions. But Republicans will not fall for that we should not fall for that.
Over the weekend, the president told CBSs 60 Minutes that hes open to discussing a compromise with Republicans, that theres a basis for a conversation. But in the interview, and in his weekend video address, Obama maintained that he would like to extend only temporarily tax cuts for those who earn more than $200,000 a year, while making tax breaks for middle-class earners permanent in other words, setting distinct expiration dates for separate tax levels.
Hatch is no fan of that idea. We need to get this economy moving, and by extending all of the tax cuts, you provide rate reductions for every American. Its not just tax cuts for the so-called rich its about boosting the men and women who build those small businesses, as well as their employees, he argues.
How Obama handles the debate will be a sign of the presidents willingness to do whats right, Hatch says. Is he willing to chuck out his plan to raise taxes on our job creators? If not, and the president gets his way, only middle-class tax relief will stay in place, while the upper tax brackets increase. That will have a direct and dire impact on small-business income and the small-business workforce.
The small cadre of people in the White House that put the health-care bills together cannot be the ones driving this, Hatch continues. Ive reached out to him in the past two years to work on health care, but our interactions were limited. In this debate, we have to find ways to work together, for the sake of the economy.
Obama, Hatch advises, should take a page out of Bill Clintons book; he is intelligent enough to do it. Hes a very bright guy, and I think he has it in him to work with Republicans here. Instead of ridiculing or attacking Republicans, calling us the enemy, he can move toward a more centrist approach; he can make some headway. If we can find a way to extend all of these tax cuts, itll be in the best interests of his administration a wake-up moment. If he plays games, it could be downhill until 2012.
In the end, the president has to realize that these tax cuts are not about the rich: Theyre about stopping the uncertainty, Hatch says. Taking over the House, especially in the numbers we did, sent a tremendous message. This years election was a referendum and a revolt against the big-government, big-taxing agenda. The American people are screaming: Wont you just stop and listen? Well, we can start by stopping each and every one of these tax hikes, which are set to hit all Americans on January 1.
Orrin, your time has come and gone. Shaking up your staff won't work for 2012.
Period!
He will probably cry like Bennett....when he is defeated.
I've nothing good to say about the guy....
He's the model of a RINO.
I’m tired of him reaching across the aisle and being oh so nice. There is a way to be civil and still stick to one’s principles. Orrin doesn’t.
How much easier would it be for mealy-mouthed Republicans to say, simply and clearly, that Democrats and others are not planning to let tax cuts expire. They are planning to raise taxes. In a recession. That’s what “letting the Bush-era tax cuts expire” means: precisely, “I’m raising your taxes.”
As much as I personally need the tax rate to go down further rather than rise at all, it's almost worth it to see this moron explaining how raising taxes is a really, really, good idea.
Regards
I’m with you....
what’s to compromise? we won. get in the back seat and shut up.
Hatch talks tough but usually folds up like a cheap suit. He should “Rank” nothing. He will give up in the end. Just like any other RINO.
This Giant Rino is the leading cheerleader for the DREAM act. Free this and free that for illegals, for cryin outloud!
Heaven help us if he is allowed to lead, or oversee anything more than an anthill in winter.
Hatch—strike three!
Hatch is another slimy politician who is almost as bad as Lindsay Graham. He doesn’t have a backbone. He’s already looking to play nice with the democrats who want to steamroll the opposition. I bet it feels like a dead fish when you shake this creeps hand.
It’s clear we need term AND AGE limits on those lousy senators! They’re old, senile and USELESS~! Either lead the way to conservative values or retire!
It’s about NOT RAISING TAXES on anyone.
Can’t imagine how tough it must be for him since his best friend, Ted Kennedy died, his words not mine.
Spot on!
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