Huge Senate majority votes to advance $858B tax package ( 5 R's Vote NO)

The Hill ^ | 12/13/10 07:10 PM ET | Alexander Bolton

[onyx]

_resident Obama's $858 billion tax package won a huge bipartisan majority in the Senate Monday evening, setting it up for a contentious debate in the House.

In a 83-15 vote, the Senate quashed a filibuster by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Va.).

Fifteen lawmakers voted against it, including five Republicans: Sens. Tom Coburn (Okla.), Jim DeMint (S.C.), Jeff Sessions (Ala.), John Ensign (Nev.) and George Voinovich (Ohio).

Nine Democrats and one independent voted against the bill: Sens. Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Russ Feingold (Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.), Pat Leahy (Vt.), Carl Levin (Mich.), Mark Udall (Colo.) and Sanders.

“It makes no sense to me to provide huge tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires while we drive up the national debt that our children and grandchildren will have to pay," Sanders said in a statement after the vote.

~snips~

A vote on final passage could happen as soon as Tuesday if opponents agree to waive the 30 hours that must elapse after a vote to end a filibuster.

Given Monday’s lopsided vote, the package is expected to win final passage easily, which one Democratic leadership aide predicted would “likely” happen on Wednesday.

Obama said he understands members of both parties are "unhappy" with the compromise, but he said the package is "first and foremost" a "substantial victory" for middle-class families.

[Happy Rain]

More like grave robbing.

[Java4Jay]

A post on yahoo:

(I need this bill to pass, for myself. But for my country’s well-being, there should be a higher tax-rate for people making $1 million or more a year. And I mean HIGHER!!! Extend the cuts for the middle/lower class, and the millionaires should be taxed 35%!! Dem’s have the majority right now, and they’d all go for that!)

I’m lost on how ‘so many’ can feel this way... this person knows nothing about ‘country well-being’

[okie01]

And I mean HIGHER!!! Extend the cuts for the middle/lower class, and the millionaires should be taxed 35%!!

This person also knows nothing about the real tax rates.

The marginal income tax on all income above $372,950 was already 35% in 2009.

Invariably, the people who want to "tax the rich" -- like my sis, the social worker -- don't know what they're talking about. Ask them what percentage of total income tax paid by the top 10%...and they'll say something like "only 25%". When you tell them it's actually 70%...and that the bottom 50% pay only 2% of the taxes...they refuse to believe it. It "can't be true."

Even then, they still want the rich to pay more -- because it's "fair".

If you listen real close, you can hear echoes of 1917 in the wails of the libs...

[Java4Jay]

Obama spoke this past weekend on National TV;

‘Lower taxes promotes job creation and this is not the time to raise anyone’s taxes’

Bam, both parties agree. So what is this $858 Billion Tax Bill all about ???

[Java4Jay]

So they can spend $858 Billion to compromise on a bill that didn’t need compromising... you goof