Posted on 12/22/2011 12:55:59 PM PST by Kaslin
(CNSNews.com) - The White House says it's been flooded with responses to the question it posed Wednesday: "What does $40 mean to you?"
One day after the White House asked "working" people to "tell us what your family will give up if your (payroll) taxes increase," the stories are rolling in, including one from a person who worried about not having enough to pay the cable bill -- or continue family pizza nights.
"Our cable internet bill is $49 per month. If we lose this payroll tax cut then we will have to give up either (our) internet access or possibly our 'Friday Family Pizza' night. Either way, we will lose something that brings us together as a family," wrote "K.Z" from Frederick, Maryland.
Another person wrote that $40 will "buy lunch from the cafeteria for almost a whole month for my twins."
Someone else who "can barely get by now" said taking $40 out of his paycheck "would just about put me under."
A person from New Mexico said "$40 less a paycheck means I will have to pick between my insulin and the water bill. It means never being able to see my doctor -- even though I have insurance."
Many of the responders said they need the money to pay for medicine, medical bills, a tank of gas, or groceries.
The White House said it received over 18,000 submissions through a form on Whitehouse.gov, averaging over 1,000 an hour and coming in from every state in the nation. It also is accepting Twitter submissions.
An extension of the payroll tax cut will save a "typical" family earning $50,000 around $40 a paycheck, the White House says. It also will reduce the only dedicated funding source for Social Security benefits, but only a few people in Washington are talking about that.
'Raid on Social Security'
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Home » News 'Waa, No Pizza Night': Sad Stories Roll In at Request of Obama White House By Susan Jones December 22, 2011 Subscribe to Susan Jones's posts
White House
The White House at sun-up on the Obama presidency, Jan. 21, 2009. (AP Photo)
(CNSNews.com) - The White House says it's been flooded with responses to the question it posed Wednesday: "What does $40 mean to you?"
One day after the White House asked "working" people to "tell us what your family will give up if your (payroll) taxes increase," the stories are rolling in, including one from a person who worried about not having enough to pay the cable bill -- or continue family pizza nights.
"Our cable internet bill is $49 per month. If we lose this payroll tax cut then we will have to give up either (our) internet access or possibly our 'Friday Family Pizza' night. Either way, we will lose something that brings us together as a family," wrote "K.Z" from Frederick, Maryland.
Another person wrote that $40 will "buy lunch from the cafeteria for almost a whole month for my twins."
Someone else who "can barely get by now" said taking $40 out of his paycheck "would just about put me under."
A person from New Mexico said "$40 less a paycheck means I will have to pick between my insulin and the water bill. It means never being able to see my doctor -- even though I have insurance."
Many of the responders said they need the money to pay for medicine, medical bills, a tank of gas, or groceries.
The White House said it received over 18,000 submissions through a form on Whitehouse.gov, averaging over 1,000 an hour and coming in from every state in the nation. It also is accepting Twitter submissions.
An extension of the payroll tax cut will save a "typical" family earning $50,000 around $40 a paycheck, the White House says. It also will reduce the only dedicated funding source for Social Security benefits, but only a few people in Washington are talking about that.
'Raid on Social Security'
President Obama and his fellow Democrats are blaming House Republicans for the current stalemate over extending the payroll tax cut. The House bill calls for a year-long extension; but the Senate passed a bill extending it for two months. Unless the two bills are reconciled by the end of the year, the payroll tax will go up.
Some conservative Republicans say the payroll tax cut extension is a bad idea, period, because it siphons money from the Social Security Trust Fund.
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) is among the conservatives who voted against extending the payroll tax cut. "While I support comprehensive tax reform, I do not support the flawed legislation presently before us," Wolf said on Dec. 13.
"The issue today, as defined by both political parties and the president, is whether or not a temporary – and costly – one-year payroll tax “holiday” should expire at the end of the month. The real issue is whether it is responsible for Washington to further shortchange the Social Security Trust Fund at a time when it is already on an unsustainable path."
Wolf called the payroll tax extension a "raid on Social Security, which is already going broke," and he noted that the money paid into the system now -- through payroll taxes -- pays benefits for existing retirees.
"Granting another tax holiday is unwise. It puts the existing benefits of those 55 million Americans who currently receive Social Security at risk to continue a failed 'stimulus' policy," Wolf said.
We should all send in messages that say....IT MEANS WE have to pay $80 a month JUST to FUND this!!!
Most likely a bunch of union hacks making stories up to further their commie agenda.
Merry Christmas
Maybe these people should join a Government Union and they will get it back. /sarc
A government-subsidized government-school cafeteria.
$40/month = less ammo
I so want to go on the site and tell them $40 means I wou’t be able to pay my union dues.
He’s a charlatan and those stupid ignorant people are falling for his lies
Jesus the argument ought to be easy to go against.
F’n gas at 3.50 a gal.
Thats cost me about 4 k a year extra on fuel since Obama took office.
When is the f’n republicans ever going to learn to fight?
2 muffins and a cup of coffee, if I paid what the government pays to cater their events.You know, when you are spending the taxpayers' money and you don't give a **** what you are spending.
Sorta like taking an annual $4 million Christmas vacation. Separate jumbo jets for you and your family, what the **** you're not paying for it.
“History suggests most Americans ARE stupid.”
Barack Obama is POTUS.....case closed.
We be havin to do wifout a lobster -—Moochie Obama
“I made these poor schlubs stand here for an hour while I chowed down on a $40 burger lunch!”
Didn’t that creep spend $40+ on a chewable toy for his dog yesterday?
You have damn fine taste.
To me, it means $40 less go’s into the social security ponzi scheme to be distributed to some old fart somewhere! /s
The unspoken subtitle to this program is “WE CAN GET AWAY WITH THIS BECAUSE WE OWN THE MEDIA.” They can get away with blatant lying because they know the media won’t call them on it.
I live, no lie, a mile in any direction from approximately 15 pizza joints. the prices have not changed more than $2 per pie since 1995, and I would argue it costs more to feed a family of 4 a good, healthy meal,(meat/veggies/potatoes or bread or grain) than it would to get one of the “2 large pies for $12.99” deals that are out there. It’s even less for the lesser quality chain stores.
I guess my “$40 bucks would have bought me a couple lapdances down at Spearmint Rhinos” didn’t get very far up the sob story chain. Those poor deprived girls is who I’m worrying about.
I want redistribution of that $40 to all of us old folks. If he keeps his $40, I don’t get to have nmy pizza on Wednesdays.
You youngun’s keep workin’ and payin’ in.
Boo hoo hoo. Cry me a river.
First, the median household income is BELOW $50K a year so right off the bat the so-called payroll tax holiday of 2% IS NOT going to be $1,000 per family.
Rich families will get the biggest cut (something I thought the Dems hated).
And $1,000 a year is only $19.23 a week. Not $40. Another issue where the Dems and the press play with words and numbers.
And frankly, if another $19.23 a week towards a tax you paid in 2010 but not 2011 and will have to again in 2012 breaks the bank you are a moron and need financial training.
And another thing...
A rhetorical question (since we know the answer is that the GOP establishment are moronic cowards): Why can’t Boehner et al point out that under their plan they’d get the $1,000 for a year while under the Dems plan it’s a total of $166 for two months.
And to boot the GOP would have created thousands of good paying jobs with the new Keystone pipeline.
So for $166 to the so-called average family we won’t bring more oil to refine to help keep gas prices down and create jobs.
Just so some stupid democrat can have pizza night. Thanks democrats you rotten pieces of scum.
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