So, I got to wondering about the "Middle Tax Class Cut" that the Senate passed this year that has become the focal point of the "Fiscal Bluff" we are quickly approaching.
Specifically, I wondered about how long the tax cut was for. Permanent? Temporary? Just how long?
Well, as is so often the case, the Google Machine came to my rescue, but also gave a few fun little tidbits that I'll share just below the Mystical Orange Whackadoodle...
The Senate passed the "Middle Class Tax Cut" on July 25, 2012 for, evidently, just one year (through 2013). Here's how Reuters headlined it:
Senate passes middle-class tax cut bill in symbolic move
Oh, those Whacky Democrats! With their Symbolic Moves, no less! But, hey! No probs-It'll never become law!
The legislation, certain to be rejected by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, lets Democrats claim in advance of the November 6 elections that they passed tax cuts for most Americans, only to be stymied by Republicans.
Ya see, it's all about The Election...Lol!
And hey, the Dem actually got help from the Republicans on this Symbolic Move! According to the Washington Post:
The votes capped a surprising day that began with McConnell announcing that he would waive procedural hurdles and permit the Senate to hold an up-or-down vote on the measure, in exchange for an agreement by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to call a vote on the Republican bill, as well.
McConnell acknowledged the unusual nature of his decision — Democratic aides could not recall another occasion when McConnell permitted a simple majority vote on a contentious issue. McConnell said his goal was to force vulnerable Democrats to support a plan to raise taxes less than four months before the Nov. 6 ballot.
Boy, Mitch McConnell sure showed Harry Reid!
Of course, even if this Silly Bill does go anywhere, it's all good:
Moreover, McConnell said, the tax bill cannot advance because it is a Senate-originated tax measure. The Constitution requires all tax measures to originate in the House.
“The only reason we won’t block it today is that we know it doesn’t pass constitutional muster and won’t become law,” McConnell said. “What today’s votes are all about,” he said, is “showing the people who sent us here where we stand.”
So, now we know where everybody stands!
Of course, this was covered here on The great Orange Santa (yes, it's that time of year, when we celebrate so many things that rhyme with "olly"). Here's our very own Joan McCarter:
Republicans are using the "blue slip" argument too. But what McConnell is overlooking is the fact the transportation bill and the FAA reauthorization bills had the same origination issue, but both passed.
So, if the Democrats' bill passes, and if McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner try to derail these middle-class tax cuts on arcane procedural grounds, they're still in the bad political position of standing in the way of tax cuts for the middle class in order to protect the wealthy. On top of that, they're actually raising taxes on a good chunk of middle-class families by getting rid of popular tax credits.
Yeah, I haven't heard too much about this tax bill being unconstitutional, have you?
Heh.