Monday, December 26, 2011

Tax Cuts

Well, the House and Senate have come together and agreed to extend the tax cuts on payroll for another two months while they work out their differences.  This seems odd to me.  What differences could they possibly have?  Either they support the tax cuts or they don't.


The Senate put out a two month extension, which made the House bristle.  After all, they said, a two month extension is useless.  We need a full year.  The Senate was being disingenuous to the American people by not extended the cuts longer.  The House was simply interested in doing what's best for the country.


I find this hard to believe.  Scrutinizing the bill gives a completely different picture.  The final bill that was signed by Barack Obama does the following:

  • Extends the current payroll tax rate
  • Renews federal unemployment benefits
  • Stops cuts in Medicare payments to doctors
  • Approves construction of an oil pipeline from Canada to Texas
  • Increases home loan fees from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
  • Requires the House and Senate to work on a bill extending the cuts for one year
What does an oil pipeline have to do with tax cuts?  And herein lies the problem.  The House and Senate are both lying to the American people by blaming the other side for not passing this legislation when the legislation itself is garbage and neither side will admit to that.

Let's have honesty in our government.  Take every one of these items and make each one a separate piece of legislation, bring it to the floor and vote on it.  Let us, the American people, see exactly how each member of the House and Senate is willing to vote on each individual item.

Start with the tax cut extension.  Bring that to the floor immediately upon return from the holidays and vote on it.  Let's see who does care enough about the American people to pass it and who does not.  

Ladies and gentlemen of the Congress, it is time for you to stand up and be counted.