US House Republicans say sticking to tax cut plans

[UpInArms]

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2005-09-14T164112Z_01_N14647530_RTRIDST_0_KATRINA-TAXES.XML

WASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - U.S. House Republicans said on Wednesday they were still committed to extending tax cuts signed by President Bush two years ago, saying they had not abandoned the effort, despite Hurricane Katrina.

"I can assure you that the House Ways and Means Committee has not abandoned trying to extend the dividend tax cut and the capital gains tax cut. We think that is critical. We have not given up on that," Rep. Jim McCrery, a Louisiana Republican, told a news conference.

McCrery is chairman of the Social Security subcommittee of the tax-writing Ways and Means panel. He also said the panel has been working on proposals for targeted tax relief to help individuals in the Gulf Coast area hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Bush signed across-the-board tax cuts into law in 2003, lowering the top rate on dividends and capital gains to 15 percent. The cuts are not set to expire until 2008, but before Katrina struck, Republican lawmakers had planned a major legislative push this fall to extend the cuts to 2010.

<snip>

Here's the insult to injury:

But House Speaker Dennis Hastert, speaking at the same news conference with McCrery, suggested Hurricane Katrina's devastation actually posed a new reason for pursuing tax relief -- as an economic stimulus.

...more...

[TheFarseer]

1. What more can I say about this?

I'm just so disgusted that this is our priority right now.

[hatrack]

2. Fine, give us a club with which to beat your over the head next year

Keep on pushin' for those tax cuts, assclowns!

[stevedeshazer]

3. greedy scumsuckers!

:nuke:

Guess they want to be voted out. :grr:

[movonne]

4. This might be the straw that breaks the camels back...

[phantom power]

5. Does the concept of "$8 trillion debt" mean ANYTHING to these people?

Anyone? Beuller? Beuller? Anyone?

[UpInArms]

6. Is this the number to which you refer?

The estimated population of the United States is 297,163,670
so each citizen's share of this debt is $26,787.10

(that means every man, woman and child - it is a birth tax)

[phantom power]

10. Why yes, that is the number.

[Trillo]

23. Birth Tax = Anti-Contraception nt

[Bravo411]

26. Nope, because...

it's paid back by taxes and they're not paying much in taxes anyways.

[anotherdrew]

28. no they think they can just force the rest of the world to pay us whatever

it used to be called "tribute" now it's called 'foreign investment'

it can't go on forever and ya know... where is that trickle-down? Shouldn't the great tax cuts already passed have "kicked-in" by now? Wow, just look at this economy zoom!

[sabra]

7. greed is good

:-(

[aquart]

12. Isn't that a quote from a character who went to jail in the end?

[sabra]

13. he didn't, but did get royally screwed by the guy who did

:-)

[tonkatoy57]

8. It's Official

There isn't one situation, not one, that the Republican Party doesn't believe can be solved by tax cuts.

Hang nail? Tax cuts will make it all better.
Martian invasion? Better cut taxes before the Martians gain control and raise marginal tax rates.
Vaginal itching? Tax cuts will soothe that uncomfortable feeling.
No right turn at a red light? Here, have a handful of tax cuts.
Your baby done left you? Here's a rousing chorus of I Got the Estate Tax Blues.

[BlueJac]

9. The Dems should....

make their stand on this issue, they could not be alone and might get a few Repugs to come over. People have to get reelected next year and this is the time to dig in and fight this out. This country is broke and now is the time to make the rich contribute once again to the nation. Dig fox holes and fight it out.

[librechik]

17. elect the Dems! We Promise to Raise Taxes!

somehow I don't think it's going to fly with leadership (although it should)

[UpInArms]

21. here's some info in one of the latest polls

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=adj1dTEym9YE&refer=us

excerpt:

Sixty-three percent of those polled agreed that ``things have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track'' in the country, the New York Times poll found.

Fifty-six percent said they are willing to pay more in taxes to help fund relief and rebuilding efforts and 37 percent said they are unwilling, the poll said.

Bush shouldn't cut taxes now because it's more important to rebuild New Orleans, 73 percent of respondents said. Sixty-three percent said that recovery efforts should take precedence over an overhaul of Social Security, the centerpiece of Bush's second-term domestic agenda.

Concerns about foreign policy and the economy also reached records. Forty-seven percent said the economy was getting worse, the highest since April 2001. Approval of Bush's foreign policy fell to 38 percent from 42 percent in July.

...more...

[librechik]

24. I know the citizens are willing to increase taxes for benefits

but our soldout-whore reps aren't willing to do it, because their corporate masters won't allow it.

[blindpig]

11. good, more rope

Dividends and capital gains! The hubris of these people is so enormous as to be a wonder. Or they're trying to squeeze the last nickle out before the tide turns. Whatever, this must be a very hard sell to the public. If the dems can't take this stick that has been handed to them and beat the rethugs silly in 2006 then I give up.

[damntexdem]

14. Dem pols need to grow spines, and fast.

'Filibuster' needs to become a synonym for 'salvation.'

[warrens]

15. They're insane

And they are going to pay bigtime at the polls next year.

[bee]

16. US House Republicans say they no longer want their jobs...

adding: f*ck you America! We dont give a rats ass about you unless your rich! bwwwaaahahahahaha.

dems reply: thank you repubs for proving beyond doubt that you are heartless, self-serving, greedy bastards. We look forward to regaining control of congress in '06 as a result of your disgusting lack of humanity.

[dusty64]

19. I don't think so.

The extremist "voting" machine companies have assured them that they can NOT lose, EVER! Definitely helps to understand all this shit they are pulling, doesn't it.

[bee]

22. you must be right about that. sadly.

which explains why theyre just so damned blatent. They dont even bother to screw us behind our backs anymore. Now they do it right in our faces. its disgusting.

[VegasWolf]

18. The only money I make is off investment income and capital gains.

Thanks to the Bush tax cuts I was able to get that third new Porsche.
What a joke! and to think that poeple in this country are starving!
These republicans are total assholes. and to think, I didn't even
need a new car.

[EndElectoral]

20. Boy, that'll help get those levees paid for!!! Jesus

And the man is from LA...

Hastert, well, you expect greed.

[deadparrot]

25. Oh, fuck you all.

May I ask WHERE these tax cuts are going, exactly?

Because my my parents (both teachers) didn't see anything.

[anotherdrew]

27. how about they just fucking eliminate taxes completely already...

run the whole damn show on deficit spending. whats to stop them?

[Erika]

29. I think working Americans are tired of being slapped

by the GOP elitists to further reduce the taxes for the rich. The GOP sound pretty evil and ghoulish, don't they?