No Alternative Minimum Tax patch could mean higher taxes for most

[ugahairydawgs]

Are you an individual making more than $48,450 or married and making more than $74,450? If so, and if they don't get this patch in place before the end of the year, your tax burden could go up significantly.

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/h...-its-reach.ece

[rdowns]

If it were up to me, we'd stick Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Boehner and McConnell in a room and not let them out until a deal is done. Maybe throw Biden in to make them all want out that much more.

[NT1440]

Originally Posted by rdowns

If it were up to me, we'd stick Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Boehner and McConnell in a room and not let them out until a deal is done. Maybe throw Biden in to make them all want out that much more.

What is that going to do?

It's the wingnuts and Boehner that keep backing out, hell even McConnell has made serious efforts.

These people just keep saying NO. It's not the leadership, its the new members that truly think they were elected to sit there and do nothing to make the government look even more dysfunctional.

[skunk]

The longer this charade goes on, the more I think you should just let it happen.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by NT1440

What is that going to do?

It's the wingnuts and Boehner that keep backing out, hell even McConnell has made serious efforts.

These people just keep saying NO. It's not the leadership, its the new members that truly think they were elected to sit there and do nothing to make the government look even more dysfunctional.

Keep telling yourself that. This notion that Democrats are somehow the white knight in all of these talks is just ridiculous.

The Republicans are dragging their feet, The Democrats are dragging their feet, and the President can't seem to do anything to bridge the gap.

This is a total and complete team failure at this point.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Keep telling yourself that. This notion that Democrats are somehow the white knight in all of these talks is just ridiculous.

The Republicans are dragging their feet, The Democrats are dragging their feet, and the President can't seem to do anything to bridge the gap.

This is a total and complete team failure at this point.

It's pretty damn difficult to bridge the gap when the GOP keeps blowing up the bridge. Sorry, but this IS their fault, and the public seems to agree.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articl...iff.aspx#page1

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Keep telling yourself that. This notion that Democrats are somehow the white knight in all of these talks is just ridiculous.

The Republicans are dragging their feet, The Democrats are dragging their feet, and the President can't seem to do anything to bridge the gap.

This is a total and complete team failure at this point.

Even though Plan B isn't really in any way a serious compromise that the GOP couldn't even pass that shows they aren't remotely serious and they should take all the blame.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by leekohler

It's pretty damn difficult to bridge the gap when the GOP keeps blowing up the bridge. Sorry, but this IS their fault, and the public seems to agree.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articl...iff.aspx#page1

I guess I missed the part where the Senate passed their bill to try and resolve this. My mistake.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

I guess I missed the part where the Senate passed their bill to try and resolve this. My mistake.

AFAIK Budget bills have to start from the House.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

Even though Plan B isn't really in any way a serious compromise that the GOP couldn't even pass that shows they aren't remotely serious and they should take all the blame.

It didn't matter if they passed it or not. Democrats had already said they wouldn't support it (which is funny since it was Pelosi's idea originally) and the President said he would veto it. Boehner undoubtedly knew all of this going in and did it to try and score some points and ended up getting whacked from both sides. Just a complete waste of time.

Both sides seem to be unwilling to find common ground on taxes and the Democrats don't want to budge on entitlements. Both sides are to blame for this clown show.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

It didn't matter if they passed it or not. Democrats had already said they wouldn't support it (which is funny since it was Pelosi's idea originally) and the President said he would veto it. Boehner undoubtedly knew all of this going in and did it to try and score some points and ended up getting whacked from both sides. Just a complete waste of time.

Both sides seem to be unwilling to find common ground on taxes and the Democrats don't want to budge on entitlements. Both sides are to blame for this clown show.

Fair point on the senate - though they do seem to be trying to make progress. The senate republicans seem to be much more reasonable according to the Hill.

----------

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

It didn't matter if they passed it or not.

It does because it at least shows the Republicans in the house were able to pass something.

The reason the Democrats threatened to veto it is because it wasn't really a serious compromise. $1 million/year tax rise? No defence cuts, but more entitlement cuts instead? Seriously?

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

Fair point on the senate - though they do seem to be trying to make progress. The senate republicans seem to be much more reasonable according to the Hill.

----------



It does because it at least shows the Republicans in the house were able to pass something.

The reason the Democrats threatened to veto it is because it wasn't really a serious compromise. $1 million/year tax rise? No defence cuts, but more entitlement cuts instead? Seriously?

Exactly- sorry, this is the GOP's fault almost entirely.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Exactly- sorry, this is the GOP's fault almost entirely.

I'll bite.....mostly because I'm legitimately curious.

What serious plan has the other side put forward in order to get this mess resolved?

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

I'll bite.....mostly because I'm legitimately curious.

What serious plan has the other side put forward in order to get this mess resolved?

The one Obama put forward.

$400k/year is a decent compromise over $250k/year. Chained CPI is a decent compromise on entitlements.

See also this.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

I'll bite.....mostly because I'm legitimately curious.

What serious plan has the other side put forward in order to get this mess resolved?

You've got to be kidding. See Eraserhead's post above.

No matter what- the GOP will just say no.

[VulchR]

Originally Posted by rdowns

If it were up to me, we'd stick Obama, Reid, Pelosi, Boehner and McConnell in a room and not let them out until a deal is done. Maybe throw Biden in to make them all want out that much more.

Pure comedic genius.

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by Eraserhead

The one Obama put forward.

$400k/year is a decent compromise over $250k/year. Chained CPI is a decent compromise on entitlements.

See also this.

I think the number on tax increases isn't the sticking point anymore. I think everyone knows it needs to go up and that $250k is not where it needs to be. I think we'll get there on the tax increases.

The problem is the spending cuts. Nobody has the guts to tackle anything of significance with SSI and Medicare. Chained CPI was never going to work because the left wasn't going to back it. That whole plan was the equivalent of Obama's "Plan B".

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

I think the number on tax increases isn't the sticking point anymore. I think everyone knows it needs to go up and that $250k is not where it needs to be. I think we'll get there on the tax increases.

Given the Republicans couldn't pass a bill at a million dollars a year, I don't think that is obvious at all.

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Chained CPI was never going to work because the left wasn't going to back it.

Where do you get the idea that the left won't back it from? They say they don't like it, but they don't say they will vote against it.

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

I think the number on tax increases isn't the sticking point anymore. I think everyone knows it needs to go up and that $250k is not where it needs to be. I think we'll get there on the tax increases.

The problem is the spending cuts. Nobody has the guts to tackle anything of significance with SSI and Medicare. Chained CPI was never going to work because the left wasn't going to back it. That whole plan was the equivalent of Obama's "Plan B".

No one in the GOP has the guts to tackle the Defense Budget.....

Welcome to political standoffs 101. Dems won't touch Medicare and SS and the GOP won't touch the Defense Budget.

[Eraserhead]

Originally Posted by quagmire

No one in the GOP has the guts to tackle the Defense Budget.....

Welcome to political standoffs 101. Dems won't touch Medicare and SS and the GOP won't touch the Defense Budget.

Well, except that the Democrats have agreed to SS cuts...

[ugahairydawgs]

Originally Posted by quagmire

No one in the GOP has the guts to tackle the Defense Budget.....

Welcome to political standoffs 101. Dems won't touch Medicare and SS and the GOP won't touch the Defense Budget.

Therein lies the problem.

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Keep telling yourself that. This notion that Democrats are somehow the white knight in all of these talks is just ridiculous.

The Republicans are dragging their feet, The Democrats are dragging their feet, and the President can't seem to do anything to bridge the gap.

This is a total and complete team failure at this point.

When the GOP could not even pass their own Plan B threw the house kills your entire argument right there.

[rdowns]

It's clear the Republicans have been practicing a policy of obstruction for several years now. To say the Democrats aren't partially at fault for this situation we find ourselves in is crazy.

I bet all we get in the next day or two is some small agreement and most of it kicked down the road for the next Congress. Rinse. Repeat.

The fact is, our politicians are more worried about primary challenges and ideology than in governing. Everyone ready for another haircut on your 401K/retirement accounts?

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by rdowns

It's clear the Republicans have been practicing a policy of obstruction for several years now. To say the Democrats aren't partially at fault for this situation we find ourselves in is crazy.

I think the dems fault is they should of called the GOP on their stuff and tow the line. The first mistake was when they held the jobless benefits hostage for Bush tax cuts but that was minor but the by far bigger one is giving in to avoid shutting down the goverment. Simple fact is the GOP got almost everything they wanted out of that and then did the same thing again for the first debt ceiling (which again came down to days)

I vote shut it down and the GOP will take the bulk of the blame over it farther making them weaker and making them weaker in the state houses and senates which would allow districts to be redrawn in better ways than the clear voter suppression the GOP did.

[likemyorbs]

Originally Posted by ugahairydawgs

Democrats don't want to budge on entitlements.

You just remember one thing. If you've been paying into something your whole life, it is NOT an entitlement. I'm sick of republicans tossing around that word.