Posted on 11/15/2012 6:56:36 AM PST by SeekAndFind
John Boehner isnt selling out conservatives on taxes. All he has done is reiterate that Republicans are open to a tax-reform deal that generates extra revenues, so long as the entitlements that are driving our long-term debt explosion are also addressed. He has also said that this reform should not raise marginal tax rates, and should indeed lower them. A deal along those lines might be worth supporting, depending on the details.
The White House is, however, insisting that the top tax rates have to go up as scheduled under the law and that even more taxes should be placed on high earners. Unless the administration is prepared to give an awful lot on entitlements holding Social Security benefit increases to inflation, and implementing premium support in Medicare Republicans would be crazy to take that deal.
Republicans who are inclined to give more ground to Obama make two arguments. They fear that failing to reach a deal, and thus letting taxes rise across the board, will throw the economy into recession. Maybe so. But the most economically damaging tax increases that are scheduled are the ones on high earners, and theyre the very ones that Obama wants to make worse. Thats not an argument for acquiescing to his demands.
Second, they worry that if no deal is cut to avoid tax increases for everyone, Democrats will succeed in blaming Republicans for middle-class tax hikes. House Republicans can avoid that trap, however, by passing a bill that extends the current tax rates for everyone. If taxes do go up anyway, voters are likely to hold the party in control of the White House responsible. And Republicans have already shown they are willing to be flexible on revenue.
Republicans should be willing to negotiate with the administration. But it wont be a real negotiation unless theyre also willing to walk away.
“If we give obamski what he wants tax-wise then we take that arrow out of his quiver for 2014 - two years from now.”
I hear what you are saying, and I am tempted to agree with it.
However, I believe that even if Boehner gave President Obama everything he wanted, the President, the Democrats, and the media would still manufacture a crisis out of this so that Republicans can be blamed for the poor economy. And mark my words, the Republican House WILL get the blame (along with Bush).
Trusting John Boehner to articulate a Republican position on taxes is like hiring Willie Sutton to work at your bank.
Everybody does their fair share, everybody plays by the same set of rules
After Boehner walked out of talks Obama was furious with him because he would not take calls from the president.
Boehner has not hiked taxes yet even though he's been under much pressure to do so. I think he's entering negotiations with a fairly strong position.
Reduce the tax rates, then eliminate the progressive factor in determining tax status for those making more than $400,000 per year. In other words, make the top tax rate 25%, and don’t graduate the rates. This means that those making $400,000 or more pay exactly 25% of all their income.
The Estate Tax needs to be abolished.
Short of that, the exclusion amount needs to be raised to $10M
The Estate Tax needs to be abolished.
Short of that, the exclusion amount needs to be raised to $10M
I’d rather they do the former — GET RID OF THE DEATH TAX.
I’m not going to play class warfare by going after those whose assets are worth $10 Million or up.
THEY PAID TAXES ON THOSE WHEN THEY WERE ALIVE, Why should bureaucrats be allowed to get their hands on it when they die?
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