Posted on 12/14/2010 7:25:02 PM PST by Second Amendment First
House Democratic efforts to block President Obamas tax bill have dwindled into a battle to save face as they come to the realization they will have little opportunity to rework the bipartisan compromise.
Party leaders were debating on Tuesday whether to bring up amendments to the bill for a vote even as Democrats acknowledged the overwhelming Senate support for the tax deal created an urgency to get legislation to the presidents desk.
The vote in the Senate indicates an urgency that is felt by a broad spectrum that middle-income taxes not be increased come Jan. 1, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters at his weekly press briefing. In order to effect that, youve got to pass a bill.
The House Democratic Caucus approved a non-binding resolution last week to reject the Obama-GOP compromise in its current form. But in the days since, with little support from the White House and none from Republicans for changing the framework, House leaders have backed off suggestions they would block the tax bill from coming to a vote. And one liberal critic of the plan said Democrats were resigned to the fact the deal would go forward largely intact.
The die is cast now, said Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who last week circulated a letter signed by 54 Democrats urging opposition to the bill. Once the president entered into that agreement with the Senate Republicans even while talks with the House were supposedly under way, that set the tone for the weekend, and now you got Americans excited about a trillion dollars that is going to be, in effect, given away.
Welch said a debate over changing the legislation is now academic. The bottom line is that it is a fast-moving train, and that has become clear, and Washington is doing what it is finding easy to do, he said.
Hoyer acknowledged that the 83 votes the deal won in an initial Senate test vote gave the legislation added momentum. Obviously there is strong support for moving ahead, Hoyer said. Rarely do you see that big a number.
Agreeing to the Senate-passed legislation, however, would be a bitter pill for House Democrats to swallow after their unified action last week. It would likely be seen as a final capitulation for a chamber that has been forced to defer to the Senate repeatedly during the 111th Congress, most notably when it passed the upper chambers version of the healthcare law in March.
Hoyer pointed out in his briefing that the bill has already been changed from its original version, noting the addition of green energy tax credits that he said were received positively by the caucus.
Welch and other Democratic critics are now pushing to hold separate votes on the components of the agreement so they can register their opposition to extending tax cuts for the wealthy and to setting the estate tax at a rate favored by Republicans.
The Democratic Caucus met Tuesday evening to discuss procedures for the tax bill. One option, aides said, was to vote on an amendment that would set the estate tax at 45 percent for individuals worth more than $3.5 million, the level approved by the House last year. (The Senate ignored the House-passed bill.) The Obama-GOP deal renews the inheritance tax at 35 percent with exemptions beginning at $5 million. Democrats have assailed that provision as a giveaway, and Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), chairman of the caucus, said Tuesday it was rubbing salt into the wounds of House Democrats.
Yet it is unclear whether an amendment to the estate-tax provision could pass the House. Republicans are likely to oppose any change en bloc, and they could be joined by enough Blue Dog Democrats to reject a higher estate tax.
I havent counted votes, Hoyer said.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said the agreement cannot be reopened.
Still, Democrats were not ruling out an effort to change the bill, even if leaders were backing off the confrontational rhetoric emanating from the caucus last week.
Our caucus feels very strongly about making sure we have input into this agreement, Larson said in an appearance on MSNBC. Hopefully were going to get to add onto that.
Welch said a debate over changing the legislation is now academic. The bottom line is that it is a fast-moving train, and that has become clear, and Washington is doing what it is finding easy to do, he said.
BS
They have NO RIGHT to do this before the incoming Congress arrives.
Why the hurry?
Because what they are doing is wrong and immoral and a fraud and a cheat.
What is he smoking? No one likes this bill except those inside the Beltway. Porkulous III ... another $1T gone up in flames. There are NO TAXES CUT but there is a DEATH TAX INCREASE.
What BS. They ALREADY AMENDED IT!!! There were over 70 pork additions added to the so called "compromise" including ethanol subsidies. The GOP is like Lando:
"This deal is getting worse all the time"
They have filled this bill with pork. They will get a years extension of Unemployment benefits and it will cost us over a trillion dollars. They are starting to realize that they sold Boehner a bill of goods and royally screwed him and the republicans. THAT is the hurry.
We got took.
Boehner isnt the right man for the Speakers job. he compromised.
McConnell did the tax deal with the President. Not Boehner.
And neither have had anything to do with the add-ons, other than the unemployment extension and the 2% FICA "one-year holiday".
It's the Democrat Senate that Xmas-treed it. And most of the Republican Senators have gone along. We don't yet know how Boehner and the House Republicans will vote.
I was amazed that Pelosi got them (house liberals) to vote for Obama-care and moderates to give up their seats for it. They hated that bill and still do. Here's another of those fun cartoons showing the frustration with Obama:
Video: Obama Supporter vs Progressives
Gee, who’s now the party of “NO”?
It’s not that Boehner compromised.. he gave away the farm.
“I’m so freaking pissed”
Obama Supporter : “ I spent the election (2008) posting on the internet forums telling everyone how great Barrack Obama is and insulting anyone who disagreed with me ”
Demoralized Progressive :” I am sure that made the difference in the election ”
We know that could never happen, LOL
I'm on the fence, although I'm slightly leaning in the direction of waiting until next month.
In a rational world the lame duck congress would extend tax rates and benefits till March or April and leave it to the new 112th congress hands to take care of things. But the Democrats just cant resist getting in one more shot.It is very hard to predict who is helped by this in two years election 2012, probably not Obama, but in the longer run it probably isn't us either.
I see you hit a brick wall on that Birther thread. Some of them are really nuts. ”Hey, I am tired of paying taxes, Obama is not really president so the IRS can't charge me taxes, WOW, we are all free now! Are my Dad's SS checks still good ? OH-OH ”
The President has surrendered and looks week. Across the board tax cuts? Check. Cut in the death tax from 55 to 35 percent? Check. These need to be lowered even more but Obama has legitimized the conservative agenda. Now the GOP House must build on these achievements and make them permanent.
Wait until Next week,you will be singing a Different tune when the deal that was made comes to light,for the tax cut extension the Democrats get the Dream Act,Dont ask Dont Tell Repealed and the START Treaty approved. Now It Looks Like they will Get Billions for OBamacare as well.
This according to Jim Demint On the Lou Dobbs Show Yesterday,To Top It Off THe REPUBLICAN leadership Made the Deal
So the House rats are a lot like the Chinese? (marxists obsessed with saving face)
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