If you need another reason to not vote for Tea Party Republicans next November, here it is: House Republicans voted to walk away from a bipartisan compromise on tax cuts and unemployment benefits. The payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits would have been extended for another two months. Not only that, the bill would have put a hold on reductions in Medicare reimbursement rates that are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2012.
The vote to walk away from the bill, rather than outright voting it down is a blow to bipartisan efforts to help working and unemployed Americans. Republicans in the Senate voted for the bill, and House Speaker John Boehner even seemed to support it in the Senate, however for whatever reason, he made sure it was killed in the House. It seems as though instead of being a true leader, he is at the beck and call of the Republican-controlled House, doing their bidding, rather than setting an example for them.
This move came after it became clear that the tax cuts and unemployment extensions would have garnered favor among the several members of the House, but in the end, it's merely a power play that could backfire against them. Millions of Americans are counting on this bill passing, and the House just gambled with their lives and livelihoods.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, (D-NY) said in a statement, "House Republicans claim to support this middle-class tax cut, but they are really trying to bury it in a committee." He also stated that Boehner is using one of the "oldest tricks in Washington" by claiming to support a bill and then making sure it never gets voted on.
Whatever Boehner's motives, it remains clear that the House Republicans are playing with fire. Moves like this are what is contributing to the splintering of the Republican party, diluting its power and potential to win votes come November. People remember things like this, and this move to undermine working and unemployed Americans certainly won't help them in the polls.
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 10
The question for this column should be "Why won't the Deomocrats and Republicans in the Senate fix the situation for a full year?" but then again these columns are meant to be primarily anti-republican as opposed to finding real answers.
The fact of the matter is that Republicans don't want the current tax system, they want a regressive system that will tax the rich significantly less than the working classes. So anything that might make this tax system effective must die in committee.
Your 'real question' isn't the real question. It's an obfuscation intended to avoid the real question. The real question is 'Do the Republicans want to actually foster consumption by the middle class, or do they want to increase profits for those that are already choosing not to create jobs with the largess they have?'
They think more regulation, more taxes, and Solyndra and Light Squared deals are winners.