Begich Votes to Let Tax Cuts Expire for the 2%
In case you missed it, something good actually passed in the Senate this week. I know, right? Grab a hand rail.
They voted 51 to 48 to end the Bush era tax cuts for those with incomes over $250,000 – otherwise known as the 2%.
And one of those we have to thank for it is none other than our own Senator Mark Begich, who voted in favor to end the policy.
How did our other senator vote, you might ask? If I reminded you that she’s a Republican would that be a good hint? Lisa Murkowski voted lock-step with every other Republican and voted no. So, how come no filibuster? Why did the senate all of a sudden operate as it is supposed to, with a clear majority making the call, instead of requiring 60 votes to get something through? One of the reasons is because Republicans wanted to get Democrats “on the record.”
Ooooooo. Democrats want to end tax breaks for the wealthiest people in the nation. How daaaaare they?
While Republicans were so intent on getting Democrats on the record, they might have missed some recent polling that would suggest that those very same Democrats would do well to BE on the record about this issue. And now they are.
But, of course, it’s never ALL good news.
The measure is dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled House, where leaders are preparing to vote next week on their own plan to extend the George W. Bush-era tax cuts for households at every income level through 2013.
But Democratic lawmakers said the Senate’s 51-48 vote is a political breakthrough that strengthens their election-year argument that Republicans are holding tax cuts for the middle class hostage in order to maintain breaks worth $160,000 a year to the average millionaire.
“If House Republicans insist on blocking our middle-class tax cuts, that is a debate we are willing to have. That is a debate we welcome,” Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a speech on the Senate floor. For more than a decade, Republicans “have conflated tax cuts for the middle class and tax cuts for the very wealthy. This bill breaks that vice.”
Baby steps.
We’re all usually anxious to chime in and tell our elected representatives how we want them to vote, and then scold them when they don’t do it, but we don’t often say thank you. So, if you’re feeling grateful for a victory, however small (and who isn’t these days?) you might want to give the senator’s office a jingle and just say thanks.
Mark Begich – 202-224-3004
Contact numbers for all senators HERE.
There were 3 Dems who voted with the GOP. Who were they?
I wish you got to break out the happy, smiley Mark picture more often.
Thank you, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand.
As always. Isn’t it wonderful to have faith that your Senators will do the right thing even when you’re not watching them?
Think I’ll send an email to both just to say thanks and keep up the good work!
Okay, let’s see how this works:
Democrats are on the record for supporting tax cuts for the bottom 98% and for anything under $250,000 earned by the top 2%. The tax rates on the top 2% (beyond the first $250,000) would go up to a reasonable rate which is still lower than that of many previous administrations, when our economy was booming. This is a change in the tax structure that is becoming increasingly popular among voters on both sides of the political aisle.
Republicans are on record for voting to raise taxes (uh oh, where’s Grover???) on the poor, middle class and small businesses in order to protect the tax breaks for the top 2% who are already paying the lowest tax rates in the last 60 years. Many of those 2%ers (and the biggest corporations) are paying little or nothing in taxes, thanks to the many loopholes that have been created by the GOP legislators they’ve bought through their campaign contributions. The rest of the tax burden then has to be made up by the middle class.
You know what? I’m good with this being on the record.
In fact, let’s make that record in a REALLY big font size or even in giant neon letters in front of every polling place this November.
“REPUBLICANS ONLY CARE ABOUT THE TOP 2%!!!!”