Time for a War Tax

[NativeTexan]

Finally, a Democrat is actually proposing something that, if passed, would require us to actually PAY for Bush's Folly in Iraq, instead of letting MASTERCARD (or is it Communist China), carry us at those ever rising interest rates!

A WAR TAX has been proposed by House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey, Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John P. "Jack" Murtha and Rep. Jim McGovern, that would add a "war surcharge" up to 15% more on American's tax bill that would raise the extra $150 billion that George W. Bush says he needs to continue his occupation of a country he chose to invade.

Obey was quoted as saying some of the wisest words out of the mouth of any Democratic Party Leader in many a moon, "If you don't like the cost, then shut down the war". I say, let the Republicans say "we don't want a new tax, but we want to stay in Iraq anyway". Let the president say "I can't believe that those irresponsible Democrats on the hill actually want to RAISE YOUR TAXES to pay for MY WAR".

Let the Republicans in Congress go on the record to vote against paying for something that they say they want. Let the Village Idiot veto the bill to finance his own stupidity while saying he doesn't want to pay for it.

The time has come to STOP THE MADNESS! And if Harry Reid doesn't allow it to be brought up for a vote in the Senate, then Democratic Senators need to be thinking about new leadership. Also, if the Republicans "threaten" a filibuster???..... Reid should make them pick one to take the floor and hold on to it as long as they can, and show the nation just how full of hot air they are when it comes to this illusion of "responsibility" that they have so freely thrown around since 1994!

Leaders of the National Democratic Party and Democratic Congressional Leadership, along with all Democratic members of Congress, need to step up and show the citizenry of the United States that THEY are responsible enough to handle the biggest issue for the United States of America in a generation! Getting out of Iraq so that the REAL War Against Terrorism can be fought properly!

[jmp]

1. Pelosi already slapped that idea down.

A tax might turn right wingers against the war ... and we can't have that. :eyes:

[jmp]

2. Pelosi nixes idea of ‘war tax’

Pelosi nixes idea of ‘war tax’

By Mike Soraghan
October 02, 2007

All told, the Democratic proposal for an “Iraq tax” lasted about four hours. That’s roughly the amount of time from when House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) gave life to the idea with his endorsement to when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) strangled it.

“Just as I have opposed the war from the outset, I am opposed to a draft and I am opposed to a war surtax,” Pelosi said in a statement issued this afternoon.

Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) is the author of the tax proposal, which is still being written. The tax would be intended to raise roughly $150 billion for the war and consist of a surtax of 2 to 15 percent of a person’s income tax. A 2 percent surtax means that a person who otherwise would pay $100 in taxes would pay $102.

“If you don’t like the cost, then shut down the war,” Obey said in a news conference.

Obey also told reporters President Bush will not get supplemental money for the Iraq war until he agrees to change course.

Bush has sent a request for a $190 billion supplemental spending bill.

“As chairman of the Appropriations Committee I have absolutely no intention of reporting out of committee anytime in this session of Congress any such request that simply serves to continue the status quo,” Obey told reporters.

Obey wants a war spending bill to end U.S. involvement in combat operations by January 2009, allow more rest time for troops between deployments and start a diplomatic surge.


http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/pelosi-nixes-idea-of-war-tax-2007-10-02.html

[angrycarpenter]

3. genius

That may be one of the most brilliant ideas I have ever heard from anyone in congress.

[shireen]

14. agreed!

I was amazed to hear it, what an incredible idea! Pelosi needs to be pressured on this one.

Money talks!

[jmp]

4. We need a new Speaker.

This one is broken.

Or corrupt.

[mike_c]

5. I believe the biggest problem, at this point, isn't Harry Reid...

...but rather Nancy Pelosi, who was quoted earlier today saying she would not let Obey's bill reach the floor of the House. Since revenue bills traditionally emerge from the House, Pelosi appears to be killing it before it's born, so to speak. Oddly, that is the precise mechanism she could use to prevent Iraq war funding supplementals from ever being voted on, thus killing funding for the war without the need for a vote, but she refuses.

[NativeTexan]

6. Sadly, it is both Pelosi and Reid...

They run scared. They are afraid that when the gops take over again, that they will be treated the same way. You can't govern that way. You can't lead that way. Hell, you shouldn't hold office if you THINK that way!!!

[mike_c]

7. someone pointed out recently that today's congressional leadership...

...is composed of the same people who developed congressional survival skills almost wholly during the republican majority, when the BEST dems could hope for was consensus with repubs who threw them a bone or two. Now those folks are trying to apply those same social skills to leadership, with disasterous results. They're still acting like they're a downtrodden minority.

[mark414]

8. it seems her only concern these days is the '08 elections

[NativeTexan]

11. Which....

.....this kind of crap will hurt not help!

[NaturalHigh]

9. I'm against a war tax...

because I'm against the war. Looking for a way to save about $150 billion a year? Get us out of Iraq.

If we're going to continue this war, we'll have to pay for it sooner or later. As it is, we've already put ourselves deeper in debt for generations to come. I'm all for cutting government spending, and this is the best place to start.

It's ironic that Republicans hold themselves up as the proponents of fiscal constraint while spending our great-grandchildren into a quicksand of debt.

[NativeTexan]

12. And as I pointed out that .....

.....David Obeys reasoning was in his quote "If you don't like the cost, then shut down the war". In other words, I think we are all in agreement with you.

[shireen]

15. none of us like paying for a war

but we're already doing it.

This war tax puts it out there as a big giant wart on the face of Republicans. If you want a war, you better pay for it! Those sleazy money-grubbers will do everything they can to avoid war! LOL! It's genius.

[robinlynne]

10. Pelosi says she won't let it come to the floor. There is a petition to Pelosi

posted via a DU thread. let her know what you think of her work!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3573376

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. And becuase Pelosi slapped this idea down

like anything else that may put some discipline into the thughs, the democrats now own the war

[HuffleClaw]

16. its a fine idea but the average person wouldn't be able to get their head around it

a pity that. give 'em reality tv and stories about britney spears and they'll lap it up but try to get 'em to comprehend something like 'supporting the troops can mean bringing them home' and they scratch their heads. idocracy indeed.

[Bo Bike]

17. Waste of time

What good would a war tax bill do but give fodder to the republicans. It would not pass and if for some miraculous reason it did W would veto it any way. Waste of time.

[NativeTexan]

20. And wouldn't they ALL look.......

.....kinda STUPID doing so!!!

[killbotfactory]

18. We should tie new wars to new taxes

We would never wage another war, again.

[radfringe]

19. personally, I'd like to see bush/cheney

and the rest of the chicken hawks out there washing cars or having a bake sale to raise the funds for their war...

[NativeTexan]

21. Or sitting in the cab of a fuel truck in IRAQ!!

What do ya think?....