Tax Cuts: Possible to vote on previous congress' bill?

[Joz]

I'm trying to understand why Obama didn't just let the tax cuts expire, and then early next year pressure the senate to pass the house bill (cuts for middle and lower class only). I know the new congress will start early next year. Is it not possible to vote on a bill passed by the previous house?

[OHdem10]

1. Could it be that the Senate will have even more Republicans

after the first of the year. To get anything passed
will require Republican votes and they have shown they
can say No real well.

When the Senate voted on his bill the Democrats could
not get the 60 votes. (Even some Dems).

The Senate has a serious problem besides more Republicans.
We have a Liberal Wing and a Conservative Wing in Democratic
Party. Often trying to get these two groups together is
almost as hard as trying to achieve a few Republican votes.

Many economists feel we need the Unemployment Benefits and
Middle Class Taxcuts cannot wait, be dropped , then try to
start again without causing harm to the Economy (possible
Double Dip Recession).

[Joz]

2. I understand, but

there will still be a majority in the senate, and with the cuts expired on everyone and seeing that dems will rather have all the cuts expire than renew for the rich, don't you think they'd at least pass the house bill?

[OHdem10]

7. Having the majority has proven meaningless. There are always

Democrats to vote with Republicans instead of their
own party. This is why I say having a msjority
in name only is not a real majority.

[pnwmom]

3. And why do you think the Senate, with even fewer Democrats now,

would succumb to this pressure?

[Joz]

4. because everybody is actually getting taxed more

and the republicans wouldn't want to be blamed for blocking real tax cuts for 98% of the country, now that they know dems aren't messing around and that's their only choice.

[pnwmom]

5. The average voter doesn't follow any of this. Obama will get 95%

of the blame for any problems that remain when he starts running. If Obama blames the Rethugs, they'll turn around and say they would have been perfectly happy to extend the benefits, but Obama refused to compromise.

And the typical American voter, who doesn't go on DU, google for political news, or donate to any political party, will focus his anger on the highest profile target: the guy at the top.

[BzaDem]

6. No. All pending bills expire when the new Congress is convened.

[Laelth]

8. That is correct. n/t

-Laelth

[lamp_shade]

9. Sad but true.