WSJ: ‘The GOP's Payroll Tax Fiasco’

[C_Clayton_Jones]

It is a remarkable accomplishment - well done, GOP.

The GOP's Payroll Tax Fiasco

How did Republicans manage to lose the tax issue to Obama?

GOP Senate leader Mitch McConnell famously said a year ago that his main task in the 112th Congress was to make sure that President Obama would not be re-elected. Given how he and House Speaker John Boehner have handled the payroll tax debate, we wonder if they might end up re-electing the President before the 2012 campaign even begins in earnest.

The GOP leaders have somehow managed the remarkable feat of being blamed for opposing a one-year extension of a tax holiday that they are surely going to pass. This is no easy double play.

Republicans have also achieved the small miracle of letting Mr. Obama position himself as an election-year tax cutter, although he's spent most of his Presidency promoting tax increases and he would hit the economy with one of the largest tax increases ever in 2013. This should be impossible.

Review & Outlook: The GOP's Payroll Tax Fiasco - WSJ.com

 

[Chris]

Sen. Scott Brown (R- Mass.) denounced House Republicans for rejecting a payroll tax cut deal on Tuesday, and accused his colleagues of putting politics before the needs of American families.

"It angers me that House Republicans would rather continue playing politics than find solutions," Brown said in a statement released shortly after the House voted to block the bipartisan bill. "Their actions will hurt American families and be detrimental to our fragile economy. We are Americans first; now is not the time for drawing lines in the sand."

The Senate bill would have prevented the payroll tax cut from expiring on January 1, 2012 by ensuring a two-month extension. Republicans in the House opposed to the bill argued in favor of a year-long extension or no extension at all, claiming that approving a bill for just two months would create uncertainty.

Brown's criticism followed harsh comments he made on Monday, when he called the GOP's refusal to compromise "irresponsible and wrong."

Scott Brown Denounces House Republicans Over Payroll Tax Cut Deal

 

[The T]

2 month extension makes no sense. Tell us when the Senate and the POTUS are going to have a real budget rather than these incremental measures?

 

[geauxtohell]

2 month extension makes no sense. Tell us when the Senate and the POTUS are going to have a real budget rather than these incremental measures?

Oh really? Then why didn't the house stay in session and come up with an alternative plan?

They left because the Senate was already in recess (after the Boner said he would get the thing passed) and weren't at the Boner's beck and call?

Wait, we are putting the cart before the horse, I have a better question:

Why did Boehner prevent the bill from even being voted on?

The GOP is going to look stupid over this. No matter how you guys try and spin it, you are going to look stupid

And it's not just guys like me that know it.

It's the Senate GOP caucus and such "liberal" publications as the Wall Street Journal.

So good luck with that.

In the meantime, America is going to suffer and the Boner is going to look like Newt Gingrich II, who makes legislative decisions out of spite.

 

[geauxtohell]

Oh, also, why did Boehner release the letter he sent to the President?

Why is the House Republicans strategy on this "to win the PR battle"?

If Obama wins re-election. Send the Boner a thank you card. He just gave Obama a new Boogeyman in the form of a spray tan, chain smoking douche from Ohio.

 

[Luddly Neddite]

Look at it this way -

Boehner will be able to go back to playing golf three times a week.