I just wish a single Republican leader could speak coherently about the fiscal cliff. To wit:
• Since 2002, Democrats have opposed all -- every single one -- of the Bush tax cuts. Every year. Until this year. What changed their minds?
• And if some tax cuts are good, why aren't more cuts better?
• Lastly, for years -- years! -- Democrats have been screeching about the supposed intransigence of Republicans in refusing a deal that offered $10 in spending cuts for one dollar in tax hikes.
Well, Democrats say they want a tax hike on "the rich" (actually, the "rich" include any sole proprietor or small business that grosses -- not nets -- as little as $200,000 a year).
That "10-for-one" deal would trade an $85 billion tax hike on America's top two percent for $850 billion in spending cuts. Coincidentally, that's the size of the so-called "one-time, emergency Stimulus" that gets spent each and every year as part of the baseline budget.
Hey, Republicans: could you ask the Democrats where the list of spending cuts are that meet their vaunted 10-for-one deal? That would take the $850 billion Stimulus out of each year's insane levels of borrowing and deficit spending?
Hey, Republicans: can you ask President Obama and the Democrats where their list of spending cuts is? Because I haven't seen one.
Can't anyone here play this game?
No, the better play would be to insist that the spending cuts promised in '82 and '92 be fully implemented in today's dollars. Then and only then would a 'compromised' be entertained.
ReplyDeleteIf they wanted a 10 for 1 arrangement after than, front-load all of the cuts and put a sunset on the tax hike.
That's a deal.