I have been highly critical of the proposed economic stimulus plan and the crazed rush to pass any bill just to have something in place. It’s bad tax policy, it’s bad economic policy and it’s just plain terrible politics.
Thank goodness that the Republicans put the kibosh on a mad rush to pass a half-baked plan (that’s right, Dad, you can read it again: I thanked the Republicans).
The final tally in the Senate to end debate on the measure was 58-41. With that, the Democrats could move push the measure to a vote.
And now the mudslinging begins in earnest.
The Democrats managed to tack more onto an already bloated bill. They were banking on the fact that the GOP will take some political heat for not including senior citizens in the rebate. The House version of the bill which the White House supports does not include seniors and disabled vets in the rebate plan.
The Democrats played a game of roulette at taxpayers’ expense, figuring that the Republicans would bow to pressure to include seniors as part of a larger bill, including among other things, extending unemployment benefits (also left out of the House version of the bill) and help for homeowners involved in the subprime mortgage fiasco.
The Republicans, however, wouldn’t bite. They wanted to add their own special interest measures – including language by McConnell to specifically bar illegal immigrants from getting rebate checks. The latter is particularly interesting from a tax policy argument – generally, those opposed to providing funding for illegal immigrants argue that the immigrants are “getting something for nothing” and that illegal immigrants don’t file or pay taxes. However, to be included in the rebate, you’d have to file or pay taxes for 2007 – so that argument is mostly moot and is just loud for the benefit of conservative voters.
The White House response to this? They’re still in their “just pass anything so long as you do it quickly” mode.
I think it is TAX CODE FRIDAY for the taxgirl.com blog?
Our country deserves better than what either political party will or can provide. In my circle of friends, “vote all the bums out”, is pretty much the voter battle cry. The last eight years have shown no fiscal responsibility, political “pork” was only a problem when the “elephant” wasn’t in power, etc. Pretty long and nasty list just for the fiscal category.
Fix the tax code is as needed as fixin’ health care, and fixin’ Walter Reed. Why the American taxpayers as a whole have allowed special interest and corporations drive the tax machine continues to dazzle me. It’s about time for a flat tax, or a Singapore style, GST, Goods Services tax. A big change is needed.
Well its 11/24/2009 and it appears all the bills Dem’s wanted passed. There is an element bent on destruction of the GOP. It is the far right wing of the party. Their defacto leader(Limbaugh) has called for flushing/purging the party of moderates and rinos, what an ill concieved plan. Limbaugh’s “Ditto Heads, Hannity’s Hannitized, Becks True Believers that buy his daily revelations he delivers as he decends the mountain top, are the sheep following an unsavory lot. Has anyone the clarity of thought to look at the evevolution of this group. Most were DJ’s, druggies, achoholics, draft dodgers and mal adjusted in most aspects of life. A nitch appeared on the political scene and overnight these guys became all-knowing political gurus. The sheep that follow the propoganda spewed daily have become cult like in conversation. From coast to coast they repeat the mantras sent out daily (daily talking points). One can travel across several state lines and the shock jocks are on the topic of the day. Then talk to anyone on the street, the sheep reguritate the same garbage. A party can’t survive operating at this level. Bring on a third party, but it will have to have provisions that keep corporate from corrupting it. Have term limits, send a senator for one 6yr term, house rep for one 6yr term. this would eliminate having to raise funds for the next run, senority, pensions and corruption. We could limit funds any individual could give $100. No corporations, labor unions, pacs or any other groups could contribute. In other words elections would only be finaced by the public( individual). This would eliminate lobbyists. We would have a government of the people. There are too many in both parties that don’t want this to happen.