Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
National Journal reports that House Republicans have just agreed to a two-month payroll tax cut extension that will allow the typical family making $50,000/year to keep $40 per paycheck than they would if the tax cut was allowed to expire.
$40 isn't nothing for a lot of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet in Obama's feeble economy, so to disparage the sob stories collected by the White House would be in bad form.
But the idea that this $160 (that's $40 x four paychecks) that won't be subtracted from workers' pay checks amounts to any sort of stimulus or significant win for the American taxpayer is risible. Moreover, the GOP concession after such drawn out and unsuccessful negotiations makes the Republican leadership look like a pack of outclassed jokers to the casual observer, and Barack a skilled negotiator and compassionate President who wants folks to keep more of their own money in these hard times.
Poorly played, all around. The only silver lining is that this all happened the week leading up to Christmas, when most normal folks couldn't care less about Beltway politics.
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Dec '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Republicans just aren't any good at the game of chicken. The last one who refused to flinch was Newt, and we know what that got us...
Oct '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
It doesn't bother me. It's the President that should be embarrassed. Is this his idea of economic leadership?
He is a joke, and Republicans should point that out.
Dec '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Why don't we cut the medicare taxes too while we're at it. That should really help.
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
It was a dumb fight for our side to so publicly pick.
The complexity of economics is an oft lamented fact of economists who have to explain to we laypersons all those theories and algebraic equations which support or refute whether a temporary tax cut helps the economy. The brightest of us will struggle with it.
Having $40 ripped from your paycheck anyone can understand, and no one is for it.
Aug '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
I agree that the two month extension is a joke. They should be fighting to make the cuts permanent. They could use it as an opportunity to expose the lie that Social Security is a kind of annuity.
May '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Dec '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
That's the heart of the matter. Congress is arguing over our money as though it was theirs. Should be go on bended knee and grovel for another spoonful from our own pot?
Jul '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Tommy De Seno: It was a dumb fight for our side to so publicly pick.
The complexity of economics is an oft lamented fact of economists who have to explain to we laypersons all those theories and algebraic equations which support or refute whether a temporary tax cut helps the economy. The brightest of us will struggle with it.
Having $40 ripped from your paycheck anyone can understand, and no one is for it. · Dec 22 at 2:23pm
Don't educate, capitulate. That's the ticket. Ya! Ya!
Jun '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Diane Ellis, Ed.:
Poorly played, all around. The only silver lining is that this all happened the week leading up to Christmas, when most normal folks couldn't care less about Beltway politics. ·
I agree. I'm not clear why, having made it an issue, the House then crumbled. But I also agree that if they didn't have the heart to fight, this was the week to give in: no one by political junkies like Ricochetians notice. And if it caused some dyspepsia for Harry Reid, that's a side benefit.
Mar '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Further proof that the Republicans are the stupid party.
Oh, and this endorsement of one Rino squish by another.
Edited on Dec 22, 2011 at 2:41pmJul '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Current headlines in the MSM. Obama Brings Our Troops Home for Christmas. Obama Cuts Taxes for Hard Working Americans.
There really is no way Obama loses this election unless he is discredited. Take all the polls and studies you want but I am positive the Democrat media spin machine will win the hearts and minds of enough voters to make this one a pretty easy victory unless the president gets some flavor of a scandal that even the media must reluctantly cover.
May '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
The way this has been played by the pols & the media, does the public understand that eventually the tax will have to go back up (or Social Security will collapse even sooner than before)?
Myself, I used the 2% cut in the Social Security tax to offset the 2% hike in my Illinois income tax. Net extra money in my pocket from this: zero.
Then there were the other stimulative tax cuts/rebates/whatevers starting with the one Bush handed out a couple years ago. Those all went to pay my property taxes.
Mar '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
DocJay:
Melanie Phillips, as usual, sums it up from the other side of the pond - "The question is therefore not just what in heaven’s name has happened to the Republican Party. It is what has happened to America."
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Sisyphus
Tommy De Seno: It was a dumb fight for our side to so publicly pick.
The complexity of economics is an oft lamented fact of economists who have to explain to we laypersons all those theories and algebraic equations which support or refute whether a temporary tax cut helps the economy. The brightest of us will struggle with it.
Having $40 ripped from your paycheck anyone can understand, and no one is for it. · Dec 22 at 2:23pm
Don't educate, capitulate. That's the ticket. Ya! Ya! · Dec 22 at 2:35pm
Spoken like a man who doesn't have to win an election.
Capitulate? To what? Since when did a tax cut become a greasy thing we Republicans loathe touching?
Edited on Dec 22, 2011 at 3:45pmMar '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Err, no - they assume that Mr Obama will redistribute the wealth from the rich, or simply print the money.
Mar '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Overlooked in all of this is that now Obama has 60 days to fish or cut bait on the Keystone pipeline. Once that provision was put into the bill, the tax holiday became superfluous. To jeopardize the pipeline over the duration of a payroll tax gimmick was legislative malpractice. The real fight is over Keystone, which is a clear GOP victory.
Jul '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
David Williamson, nice read but very sad.
Illiniguy, here is the headline. Obama Pushes Pipeline and Gets American Unions Back to Work!
You heard it here first. Obama has little desire to approve this pipeline but politics may dictate he has to. If he does, then his eco pals will cry but realistically where are they going to throw their support.
Aug '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
All I had to read was "Republicans Agree to Pathetically" and I thought, "Here we go again."
Should "Republicans Agree to Pathetically..." become the party slogan?
Oh, I kid, of course ;-)
May '11
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Diane Ellis, Ed.:
Moreover, the GOP concession after such drawn out and unsuccessful negotiations makes the Republican leadership look like a pack of outclassed jokers to the casual observer
That's because they ARE a pack of outclassed jokers.
It is looking more and more that the Tea Party needs to divorce itself from the Republican Party. The Republican brand has become toxic to a majority of Americans (my belief based on purely personal observation and discussion). The rank and file Republican dislikes the current leadership because of just what we are reading about above.
Pat Caddell is right. Republicans = Party of Stoooooopid.
Oct '10
Re: Republicans Agree to Pathetically Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Extension
Don't blame me, I'm writing in Sarah Palin.