Use Reconciliation Again To Extend Tax Cuts In The EXACT Form Obama Wishes Them To Be

[Bytemeister]

It is quite clear that there will be NO compromises on ANYTHING in the next 2 years or longer let alone on the Bill for the extension of the tax cuts. The Republicans think that the only compromise would be to pass the extensions FOR EVERYONE (including the Millionaires and Billionaires)...PERIOD!

My suggestion is for us to USE OUR DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY WHILE WE STILL HAVE IT. What I think we should do is have Speaker Pelosi try to get the votes in the House of Representatives to pass an extension of the tax cuts for EVERYONE EARNING UNDER $250,000/year just as President Obama has suggested in its exact form. With the huge Democratic majority in the House, she just might be able to get the votes she would need to get it passed and move it on to the Senate.

We all know that the Senate will FLATLY REJECT the Bill that would have already been passed in the House. Once the Bill is defeated in the Senate, then, because it is a BUDGETARY ISSUE, it could be brought up again in the House of Representatives and BE PASSED THROUGH RECONCILIATION. As we all know, the 10 year tax cut extension was accomplished through reconciliation in the first place. By using this mechanism, the Democrats might be able to get the Bill pushed through in EXACTLY THE FORM that President Obama has proposed in the first place...that being a tax cut for EVERYONE EARNING LESS THAN $250,000.

Any opinions are greatly appreciated

[Jackpine Radical]

1. You're assuming that what Obama says he wants

and what he actually wants are the same.

I'm not convinced of that at all. I think he wants to continue the cuts for the rich, and needs the Republicans to serve as cover to accomplish this goal. The end result is that the cuts for the rich will be extended for 2 years, and that will throw the whole thing into the 2012 election blender.

[Skittles]

2. CORRECT

it is all pretty fucking obvious it's a big dog and pony show

[theoldman]

3. Stop trying to use common sense.

Politicians do not use common sense. If only one person were involved it would be easy but you are thinking that hundreds of politicians have intelligence.

[coti]

4. There are a number of questions on using reconciliation, however I don't think the Senate can reject

it in the way that you do.

The questions about whether reconciliation can be used surround:

1) It already having been used once this year

2) If the middle-class cuts are made permanent, their affecting the deficit beyond 10 years and thus not being subject to reconciliation, and

3) The House procedure and certifications required for reconciliation, which take time.



Luckily, like I said, I think we've got a much better chance of getting 60 votes in the Senate than you stated. Frankly, politically, I don't see how anyone, Senator or Representative, can stand in front of a middle-class tax cut bill without flat-out losing their job the next time they come up for re-election.

[OhioBlue]

5. They cannot use reconcilliation b/c they didn't pass a budget

I remembered reading another DUer point out that the Dems couldn't use budget reconciliation to pass the tax cuts b/c they never passed a full budget - they deemed as passed "a budget enforcement resolution". I googled to try and find some language/logic to explain it. I got this link off of a discussion at FireDogLake: http://washingtonindependent.com/91566/in-dodging-a-budget-vote-dems-take-reconciliation-off-the-table

[beyurslf]

6. Those tactics are only available to the Republicans. if we want to do something like that,

then we will need 60 or more votes in the Senate 9preferably 63 or 64 so we can let a couple off the hook).