Or so say three senior House Democrats who have proposed an income tax surcharge to pay the $150 billion annual cost of operations in Iraq (and the $40 billion annual cost of operations in Afghanistan). Rep. David Obey (D-WI), John Murtha (D-PA) and Jim McGovern (D-MA) introduced the bill, claiming that it is unfair to pass the cost of the war on to future generations. The surcharge would total about 2% for low- and middle-income taxpayers and 12-15% for upper-class taxpayers.
The proposal was immediately shot down by ranking Democrats and Republicans.
Nonetheless, Obey said: “By putting together this bill we hope people will stop ignoring what this war is costing American taxpayers and call the president’s bluff on fiscal responsibility.”
In contrast, the Republican National Committee spokesman replied: “Americans will reject Democrat plans to take away their hard-earned dollars and will penalize the party that demonstrates an inability to win the War on Terror.”
Hmm. It’s a dilemma for both parties. On the one hand, the Republicans are incapable of touting themselves as the party of fiscal responsibility while continuing to pour dollars into a war that appears to have no end. On the other hand, the Democrats continue to cry foul about the war but are taking no real steps to end it other than increasing taxes. Neither party can claim the high road on this one.
I keep telling myself there must be away out of this war without leaving the country in a civil war and reverting to terrorist.
Of course a tax would make Americans take notice and want to do something about it.