Forget Tax Cuts for the Wealthy: Now Republicans Want to Tax the Poor

Many Republicans who fought tirelessly to stop the Bush-era income tax cuts from expiring on schedule are now saying a different “temporary” tax cut should end as planned. By their unique definition, that amounts to a tax increase.

President Barack Obama seeks a tax break which helps 46% of all Americans who pay a payroll tax on every cent they earn. Republicans oppose this while wanting to afford tax cuts to the wealthy.

Associate Press reports:

It’s always a net positive to let taxpayers keep more of what they earn,” says Rep. Jeb Hensarling, “but not all tax relief is created equal for the purposes of helping to get the economy moving again.” The Texas lawmaker is on the House GOP leadership team.

 

After the debt ceiling debacle, which would be more aptly named as ‘the Tea Party’s Katrina’ – this is what they come up with; even less compromise and seeking to afford the wealthy more and the poor even less of what they earn. (A big Fuck You is in order here.) As if what they earn is enough to thrive on while the wealthy enjoy their earnings without a shared sacrifice and Corporate welfare is on the rise.

This style of anti-Robin Hood behavior is quite the GOP trend; Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s recent budget plan also sought to raise individual income taxes, but mostly on the elderly and poor by approximately $1.7 billion per-year.

According to 23 polls, Americans support increasing taxes:

Rep. David Camp, R-Mich., chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, and a member of the House-Senate supercommittee is taxed (pun intended) with finding new deficit cuts.  Tax reductions, “no matter how well-intended,” will push the deficit higher, making the panel’s task that much harder, Camp’s office said.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Stop right there.

In Camp’s line of thinking, then ending tax cuts for the wealthy would also reduce the deficit -- but that’s not allowed because they are ‘job creators’ according to Republicans. But, they aren’t. Unemployment is a huge problem, so we can conclude that the Bush tax cuts were the miserable failure economists have already determined. Is it any wonder Dems feel Republicans have waged a war on the middle class?

AP reports:

Republicans cite key differences between the two “temporary” taxes, starting with the fact that the Bush measure had a 10-year life from the start. To stimulate job growth, these lawmakers say, it’s better to reduce income tax rates for people and for companies than to extend the payroll tax brea

Eric Cantor concurs with other Republicans in this line of thinking. Other Republicans are waiting to see what occurs in hopes of using this to bargain the he upcoming debt reduction talks battle. (Can you say hostage-taking?)

If Bush tax cuts were a success, then why do Republicans call them the ‘Obama tax cuts’ in every debate — the President was given little choice but to extend them.

America’s deficit is supposedly their main concern, so why target the poor and elderly if billions are spent on Corporate welfare.