Posted on 11/29/2012 9:26:30 AM PST by Kaslin
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) slammed the door Thursday morning on Democratic demands to raise tax rates on families earning more than $250,000 per year.
“We’re insisting on keeping tax rates where they are, first and foremost, to protect jobs and because we don’t think government needs the money in the first place,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
“The problem, as I’ve said, is that Washington spends too much. But if more revenue is the price that Democrats want to exact, then we should at least agree to do it in a way that doesn’t cost jobs and disincentivize rates, as we all know raising rates would do,” he said.
McConnell’s comments came a day after Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) shot down a proposal by a senior GOP lawmaker, Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole, to agree to extend tax rates only for families earning below $250,000 and resume the battle against higher tax rates on the wealthy next year.
Boehner said President Obama and Democrats should focus on finding ways to cut spending and reform entitlement programs.
The fate of the Bush-era tax rates — which will expire for all income levels in January — has dominated the debate over the slew of tax increases and spending cuts that are set to begin next year.
McConnell scolded the president Thursday for sticking fast to his campaign pledge to seek higher taxes on the rich, and made clear that raising tax rates on anyone is unacceptable.
“The longer Democrats keep saying it, the longer it’s going to take to come up with an agreement,” he said. “The only reason Democrats are insisting on raising rates is because raising rates on the so-called rich is the holy grail of liberalism.
“Their aim isn’t job creation, they’re interested in wealth destruction,” he said.
McConnell warned that raising rates would discourage people from working and investing their money. He said dual-income households would be especially affected, as married women thinking about entering the workforce would have a powerful disincentive.
He noted Republicans have proposed capping tax deductions by reforming the tax code and argued that would be a better path because it would broaden the tax base.
McConnell said restructuring tax deductions would “probably have a smaller negative effect or even a positive effect on the amount of labor supply.”
But tax legislation isn't the end game, it's Supreme Court nominees. So they'll use this little impasse to change the rules and then, down the road, shove a few more Ruth Bader Ginsburgs down our throats.
Bottom line .. we're screwed.
It might just help stiffen his spine.
Attn. all GOP House Members. This should go without saying but you obviously need to have it said! Not one of you was elected to go to Washington to raise taxes! Not. One. Of. You!
In total agreement. Let the free fall happen, then pick up the pieces. Let the smoking wreck at the bottom of the cliff be the liberal legacy.
“There’s words, and there’s deeds.”
Exactly.
Let’s hope that McConnel has some spare backbone and cojones to donate to Rep Bonehead (the follower of the House.)
Democrats operate like this
They propose to increase agency budgets and earmarks and pork programs by 10%
then, if they drop back to increasing them by “only” 9%, they claim the 1% difference as a CUT and merrily spend 9% more than last year!
hello, deficits
I just wish the crooks greedy azzholes and incompetents who couldn't even park a bicycle (ever heard a speech by Louise Slaughter?), who serve in both parties in Congress, would STOP kicking the can down the road - in my lifetime
This obviously has to end...badly
The entire Republican Congress, (House and Senate) plus 95 of the rats in both houses could oppose the tax increases, which wouldn’t matter to that arrogant pos occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and dingy Harry Reid
McConnell is not to be believed or trusted. Let us remember that it was his idea to increase the debt ceiing automatically. He’s in cahoots with Reid and Schumer.
The House should adjourn for the year. We would hear screams across Washington. We’re all told that we must act by December 31st. But the House reconvenes on January 4th. Let the tax cuts expire. And the unemploment extensions. Let the people get a good look at their paychecks (or lack of them) when the president is re-inaugurated.
The entire Republican Congress, (House and Senate) plus 95 of the rats in both houses could oppose the tax increases, which wouldn’t matter to that arrogant pos occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and dingy Harry Reid. He wants to shove the tax increase the peoples throat, just like he did with 0bamaCare
Doors have hinges, and the GOP is the oil for the squeaky one.
I agree. We do not have a revenue problem, we have an out of control spending problem.
My point is that until there are real cuts on the table for spending this year, there is nothing to even talk about.
“Propose a middle class tax CUT!”
“Middle class”, like “taxpayer”, has become code for “white”; don’t hold your breath waiting for a tax cut.
Eggs are tapered so a chicken’s butt doesn’t slam shut. The same thinking may apply here. I think an egg is about to be laid on the taxpayers.
He should add... a why do we call what is going to happen a fiscal cliff? Everything the Democrats want to happen is going to happen in January: Return to Clinton era tax rates; automatic cuts on everything but entitlements; Obama Care. Why is this the Republican’s responsibility to fix the perfect storm the Democrats created. Answer, because the GOP has no strategy and no discipline. The GOP should point out that everything that happens in January is the design of the democrats and affirmed by the voters. If the public wants something different, speak-up...
Arrogant as you can see, climbed in politics due to his mother's political career. Actually has not accomplished much on his own, except become a Congressman.
Not in my district, so I can't do anything about it.
If we are going to get BLAMED anyway for everything, let it rip NOW. call their damn bluff.
Demand the Spending CUTS, take Sen. Coburns wasteful spending list, and Aid to our Enemies list, and put the entirity of it on the table, otherwise NO DEAL.
If they did all that, the need to put entitlements on the table would be NIL.
No elections for 2 more year,now is the time to take the heat and get over it.
It’s been a long long time since I was in school but isn’t this just kabuki theater? The House funds the programs, right? So why don’t they just say that unnecessary programs in 2013 will not be funded period. End of spending!
I like that simple solution, and why not?
So long Reid, call us when you want to talk. I like it.
Just thought of something: He who holds the purse strings has the upper hand. That’s what I do in my house, nope ain’t gonna buy nonsense you wants.
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