Republicans are finally “catching on”

In other last minute  negotiations, it appears that the one year, temporary payroll tax cut will become a bit more permanent, at least for another year.  This time, however, the Republicans apparently realized that the word “concession” doesn’t mean caving in to Democrats’ demands.

Congressional Democrats and the President seem to have forgotten that Social Security and Medicare are going broke.  This forgetfulness has resulted in their demand that the one year payroll tax (which funds Social Security and Medicare) cut be extended for another year.  The result will be to lower the amount of money collected by Social Security and Medicare by something like $123 billion next year, making both programs even less solvent.

Rather than hand the President a campaign issue, Republicans in the House have agreed to the extension, but only if the bill includes a provision that forces the President to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days.

As you recall,  in November, the administration decided that even after years of study, and, decisions by every administrative agency involved that the pipeline would not harm the environment, we should wait until 2013 to make a final decision. 

The Keystone codicil is now being negotiated in the Senate, where at least eight Democrats have said publicly they hope the project goes forward: Jon Tester and Max Baucus of Montana, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Lousiana, Mark Begich of Alaska, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

And, as of Friday evening, it appeared that this “deal” would be enacted.  But, here is something curious.

Democrats were set to concede, in part because they believe the administration can find a way around the provision, if need be. [emphasis supplied]

Fascinating…Democrats believe the President can simply ignore the law.  Of course he has already shown his willingness to do so if it will secure votes, (see: the Defense of Marriage Act), but this will hand the Republicans a campaign issue.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

 

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SoundOffSister

The Sound Off Sister was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and special trial attorney for the Department of Justice, Criminal Division; a partner in the Florida law firm of Shutts & Bowen, and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami, School of Law. The Sound Off Sister offers frequent commentary concerning legislation making its way through Congress, including the health reform legislation passed in early 2010.

27 Comments

  1. winnie on December 17, 2011 at 4:05 pm

    Cool beans…maybe O and the dems have painted themselves into a bit of a corner?? If nothing else, it should provide hours of entertainment when it becomes a campaign issue. 😀
    ?



  2. sammy22 on December 17, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    So far the extension is only for 2 months. So the can is kicked down the road some. As to the Keystone pipeline, they only voted to “expedite” the permit. We’ll see how that works out.



    • crystal4 on December 18, 2011 at 11:33 am

      It’s? a beautiful thing. After 2 months when the pipeline is not approved, the GOPers will pull the tax extension….right in the midst of the campaign.
      Checkmate!?
      ?



    • Dimsdale on December 18, 2011 at 11:59 pm

      Hmmm.? But the Democrat controlled Senate wants to pull the tax extension now, by putting up a two month extension.? That’s better?? Not approving the pipeline, in the best interests of the country, is better?
      ?
      Upchuck!



    • crystal4 on December 19, 2011 at 6:44 am

      Dimsdale, good for what country…do you live in China?
      Anyway, I am convinced the American people aren’t stupid. They held up needed tax relief for their Xmas gift to big oil. 9% approval rating now…how low will it go?



    • Dimsdale on December 19, 2011 at 10:25 am

      Tell me, crystal: is the tax cut good or bad?? You can’t have it both ways.?
      ?
      And the pipeline is all good for the country.? Unless you just don’t like a strong, economically secure America.



    • Dimsdale on December 19, 2011 at 10:27 am

      And if I did live in China, the failure of the pipeline and gulf drilling would be good for China, not the U.S.



  3. johnboy111 on December 17, 2011 at 8:40 pm

    as i am struggling to keep my fleet GASSED UP….the “O” is thinking about? the pipeline???????



  4. GdavidH on December 17, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    My prediction…

    “the bill includes a provision that forces the President to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days.?”

    Just like the deadline to submit subpeonaed (spelling?)?Solyndra e-mails and documents, this too shall pass….unfulfilled.?



  5. ricbee on December 17, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    When I got my little “raise” a few years ago,I didn’t realize that it was coming out of SS,but SS needs that money or serious reforms to continue.



  6. Dimsdale on December 17, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    Maybe Boehner has more testicular fortitude than many have been giving him credit for up to now.
    ?
    Isn’t it amazing how, when Bush gives a tax cut, it is “only for the rich”, but when ? does it, it is to help the middle class?? Sure, this has some validity, as the payroll tax affects those making up to about $107K, but, as we all know, this tax will be very short lived, and is only in effect to reelect ?, not help the middle class.? If the economic well being of the middle class were the real reason, the Alt. Min. Tax would be abolished, and a more flat tax would be enacted.? Not happening with this president (or Congress for that matter).? Even if the Repubs wanted to do it, the Dems would begin the usual screed about “aiding the rich” etc., even with ?’s pal at GE paying zero (or is it ??) taxes.



    • crystal4 on December 18, 2011 at 11:38 am

      I have been wondering why you are always harping about the “flat tax”. The only reason I can see is that all your income is derived from stocks, bonds and interest from off-shore accounts.
      Something I cannot support as my income is from working and for these exceptions for you , I will have to pay more. Sorry.



    • Lynn on December 18, 2011 at 4:56 pm

      Leaping to conclusions again, Merry Christmas



    • Dimsdale on December 19, 2011 at 12:02 am

      I don’t have any of those things (assumption is the mother of all screw ups).? My income is derived from working, which I will likely have to do until the day I die, and paying 17-20% in taxes will save me a bundle (something the president says he wants for us middle class Americans, right?).
      ?
      You must be in a pretty rare place, like GE, for a flat tax to affect you that adversely.



    • crystal4 on December 20, 2011 at 8:29 am

      And isn’t it amazing how,? when the Repubs give thier tax cuts…”they pay for themselves” but when the Dems want a tax cuts for the middle class…”we have to find a way to pay for it”.



    • Dimsdale on December 20, 2011 at 1:37 pm

      That true!!? Dems always find a way to spend beyond what they take in, so they have to pay for that with new taxes.? They can never get rid of programs and “entitlements” that they build their power base on.? Tax cuts will pay for themselves if the gov’t will let the economy grow and create jobs.



    • crystal4 on December 21, 2011 at 6:55 am

      Scott Brown: ” “t angers me that House Republicans would rather continue playing politics than find solutions,??? ?Their actions will hurt American families and be detrimental to our fragile economy.”
      Your senator broke ranks. Geez, was he visited by the 3 spirits of Christmas or is he trying to save his own a$$ because Warren is ahead in the polls?



  7. JBS on December 18, 2011 at 8:29 am

    Normal
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    MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

    st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }

    /* Style Definitions */
    table.MsoNormalTable
    {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
    mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
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    mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
    mso-para-margin:0in;
    mso-para-margin-bottom:…



    • JBS on December 18, 2011 at 8:30 am

      Please edit this out.



    • Lynn on December 18, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Good, because I don’t get it. is this a computer program?



  8. JBS on December 18, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    No, artifact. I hope that it is edited out.
    So, we have Machiavelli in the White House? Everything this president does has wide ranging implications, ramifications, nuances and hidden meanings and results. ?bama’s main reason for being remains the destruction of the middle class, and more. To put it off for a mere two months is part of the process.
    While it is hard to fathom that as a Democrat goal, viewing his actions through the (U.S. signatory) world program of economic equality, transfer of wealth to poor countries and U.N. inspired “sustainable development” initiative, ?bama makes sense. (The pipeline only increases and prolongs our “U.N.-sustainability.” ?bama has world masters to answer to.
    If ?bama really was interested in funding Social Security, why not extend the SS tax to a higher…



  9. sammy22 on December 19, 2011 at 11:47 am

    JSB says: “if ?bama really was interested in funding Social Security, why not extend the SS tax to a higher?”. What? Increase taxes on those individuals making a salary higher than $107,000? It seems to me you’re not hearing what the Repubs in Congress have been insisting on: no tax increases!



    • JBS on December 19, 2011 at 3:12 pm

      “if ?bama . . . “, no mention of Republicans.
      What do you suggest?



    • crystal4 on December 20, 2011 at 7:18 am

      But Grover said it’s Ok to increase taxes on 160 million in the middle class.



    • Dimsdale on December 20, 2011 at 1:35 pm

      Don’t stereotype yourself.



  10. sammy22 on December 19, 2011 at 5:31 pm

    I am all for taking the cap off on the SS tax, and always have been. But the President can’t do it on its own.



  11. JBS on December 21, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    Dang, something he can’t do by Executive Order?



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