"Vote early and vote often."
- Al Capone (1899-1947)
Posted on 06/13/2002 11:54:22 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON, Jun 13, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- AP Special Correspondent
House Republicans pushed through legislation Thursday granting permanent tax relief to married couples, overriding Democratic complaints they were draining Social Security trust funds to gain election-year advantage.
The 271-142 vote sent the bill to the Senate, where Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., gave it a tepid reception.
"We don't want to have a $42 billion annual tax increase that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011, because people are married," Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said as Republicans advanced the latest in a string of bills designed to keep last year's tax cuts from expiring.
"The way to do that is to make the marriage penalty relief permanent."
But Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said the bill was part of a "fiscal irresponsibility rampage" by Republicans, coming on the heels of last week's bill making estate tax repeal permanent.
"An election-year ploy," snapped Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas.
Passage would send the bill to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Tom Daschle showed scant enthusiasm for debate on the issue this year.
"With all the work we've got to do, I think it would be difficult to anticipate another tax debate. My sense is, we've been there and done that," said Daschle, D-S.D.
It was the second day in a row that congressional Republicans used debates in the Capitol to criticize Democrats on tax-cutting issues.
The Senate refused Wednesday to make the estate tax repeal permanent, bottling the bill up on a vote of 54-44, six short of the 60 needed for approval.
The measure on the House floor was part of a GOP plan to advance permanent tax relief on the installment plan in the weeks leading up to the fall campaign.
Because of Senate rules, the tax-cut legislation that President Bush pushed through Congress last year was drafted to expire on Dec. 31, 2010. Barring further action by Congress by 2011, some taxes would rise to their prior levels and some forms of relief would fade.
Bush asked Congress earlier this year to make all of last year's tax relief permanent, but Daschle has refused to schedule a vote on a House-passed bill to accomplish that.
In response, House Republicans have begun passing a series of bills to make portions of last year's measure permanent.
Thus far, bills have cleared the House making permanent the estate tax repeal, an adoption tax credit and tax-free treatment for Holocaust restitution. Debate is expected this summer on a measure to make permanent certain breaks for retirement accounts, and possibly other bills, as well.
Aware they are voting on politically appealing legislation, Democrats in the House and Senate have fashioned a series of alternatives designed to show they support tax relief at the same time they showcase support for Social Security and Medicare.
Under the legislation that House Republicans pushed, tax relief targeted to married couples beginning in 2005 would be extended permanently.
Couples who do not itemize their tax returns would receive the same deduction as two single people. Other changes in the tax brackets would benefit all married couples, and additionally, eligibility for a low-income tax credit would be liberalized.
In all, Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Ill., said 36 million couples would benefit if the so-called "marriage penalty" tax relief were made permanent, at a savings of $42 billion annually.
Without passage of the measure, added Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., "We will be in essence putting a tax back on the backs of" working couples in 2011, at an average of $1400 a year.
Democrats took turns lambasting Republicans.
Matsui said the bill would cost $460 billion for the first decade it was in effect. "We're going to break the bank for senior citizens when it comes to retirement benefits that they expect to get" he said.
"When are you going to be honest with people that you have to pay for stuff?" asked Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., looking across the House chamber to the Republican side of the aisle. "When are you going to be honest?
By DAVID ESPO
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
We must not just take back the senate, but we must capture the senate in a landslide. Remember we have RINOs in the Senate, and we need at least a dozen more conservatives just to offset the RINOs.
Also, I think that stay-at-home-moms (and dads) should have an advantage as well. While we're at it, tax credits for homeschoolers and private school students, as well as tutors so that kids in public school can actually learn something; across-the-board cut in income taxes; and anything else to help families stay families.
What a glorious thing for America if we could have a US Senate as effectively run as the US House is by the Republican majority.
But wishing and hoping is not going to make it so.
It's going to take - and is taking - giving, and giving, and giving again - and hard hit the turf work (as in registering as many Republicans as possible - to counter all the dead, the illegals, and the felons the Demonrats will have voting for their side......- and a lot of prayer!!!!
The RINOs are a problem but at least they vote for the judicial nominees!
"Vote early and vote often."
- Al Capone (1899-1947)
One way to do that is to Donate $$ to the comapaigns of:
John Thune in SD to defeat Dassholes butt-buddy
and
Norm Coleman to defeat the lying, mad socialist Paul "Welfare" Wellstone
There are several other good Republican candidates out there but I can't remember them.
Let's Roll
Time out 14:34
KMG-365
I know for sure that Johnson is a goner. His state voted around 70% for Bush in 2000, and the President is very popular there today. I'm not so sure about Wellstone, after all he is from socialist Minnesota and might be able to hang on (barely) from last minute getting out of the vote by the democrats (very helpful to have 110% turnout from certain districts), and I don't know quite much about Carnahan.
Do you know how many GOP incumbents are vulnerable at this moment?
Here's the correct link for Norm Coleman
Well, you know we have Trent Lott as the GOP minority leader in the Senate. It is obvious to all of us that he is lacking a spine. If GOP somehow screws up
the Senate elections this year, Trent Lott won't remain as the leader, for sure.
I disagree. The law should treat us all equally, not provide special benefits for those who engage in 'approved' behavior.
What like Rushing Sexual orientation hate (thought) crimes bills to the floor, you little weasel?
"With all the work we've got to do, I think it would be difficult to anticipate another tax debate. My sense is, we've been there and done that," said Daschle, D-S.D.Hmmmmm....but, but... your Senate Democrat Judiciary Committee, Senate Democrat Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Democrat Intelligence Committee haven't had much work this past year. Seems these committees have have waaaaay too much time on their hands. Have not acted on intelligence briefings, have not acted on the majority of President Bush's federal judicial nominees. Plenty of 'fresh' underworked, underutilized Senators to take up this issue this year.
New Hampshire is iffy. Sununu and Smith are in a primary battle and polls show that if Smith wins the primary he loses to the Dem. If Sununu wins the primary he wins the seat. So, that could stay in GOP hands.
Rumor has been that Hutchinson in Arkansas is vulnerable but I think the polling is pretty heavily in his favor at this point but the Dems are running a good ole boy - Pryor, from an old Arkansas Democratic political family. Could be tight.
Incredibly, Phil Gramm's seat in Texas is up for grabs but I'm hoping W does some serious campaigning down there to ensure that seat stays in the GOP.
Gordon Smith from Oregon was once thought to be vulnerable but the Democratic governor chose not to run against him so he seems safe now.
The other race to watch will be Helms's seat for which Dole and Bowles are running. I think Dole is favored but Bowles is a Clinton crony and probably has lots of money.
As for the Dems I mentioned, I do believe Thune will win in SD. Wellstone is in trouble as Norm Coleman has polled even with him and if the Greens throw someone into the race, that will help siphon votes from Wellstone. Carnahan won on a sympathy vote and Jim Talent (her opponent) barely lost the Governor's race so he has a good shot.
It's odd because even those the GOP has twice as many defending their seats, it is probably the Dems who are more vulnerable. Of course, a lot can change between now and November.
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