2010 Tax-Friendly Politicians and Groups

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) just issued its naughty and nice list for 2010. In it, it rates various politicians under the category "naughty" if they have taken a position suggesting they are in favor of more taxes and "nice" those that have done the opposite.

As expected, President Obama topped the naughty list along with Robert Gibbs and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for her campaign to tax and fine emissions-causers. However, there were surprises as Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels made the list for even considering a VAT. 

The nice list encompassed the tea party movement, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie "for staring down government union bosses" (woo woo!) and even Snooki, for busting Obama's inclusion of a 10% tanning tax in Obamacare. And last but not least, House member Charlie Rangel made the list, "for lowering at least one American's tax burden." You gotta love that sarcasm.

Dem Leaders Refuse to Attend Tax Bill Signing

The $900 billion tax cut and unemployment benefits package is now the law of the land. The tax cuts are with us for another two years. Period.

The signing ceremony was conciliatory between the President, the GOP and most members of his party, but not all. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi were invited, but had "scheduling conflicts," aides said. Right. How juvenile. Thank God at least Pelosi will be in the distant background very, very soon.

House Votes No Tax Cuts for "Rich"

The House voted 234-188 today to pass legislation that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts only for those making less than $200,000 or $250,000 as a family. Twenty Democrats, Brian Baird (WA), Dan Boren (OK), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA), Artur Davis (AL), Lloyd Doggett (TX), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Ron Klein (FL), Jim Matheson (UT), Mike McIntyre (NC), Mike McMahon (NY), Jerry McNerney (CA), Walt Minnick (ID), Gwen Moore (WI), Jim Moran (VA), Collin Peterson (MN), Earl Pomeroy (ND), Bobby Scott (VA), Gene Taylor (MI), Mike Thompson (CA) and Pete Visclosky (IN) voted against the bill after 33 had defected in a previous test vote. Three Republicans, Walter Jones (NC), Ron Paul (TX) and John Duncan (TN), voted with Democrats to renew only the middle-class cuts.

This vote is superfluous, however, since Senate Republicans have vowed to filibuster the proposal. They have pledged to hold out for an extension on all cuts, making Pelosi the silliest sitting duck.

Voters Say Extend the Tax Cuts to All

According to Rasmussen, voters want Congress to continue the Bush tax cuts when they enter into their lame duck session. Specifically, 50% of likely voters want them extended for all Americans rather than continuing them for all but the "wealthy." Forty-four percent think they should be extended for everyone but the "wealthy."

President Obama insisted that only tax cuts for individuals who earn less than $200,000 annually and couples with a yearly income of less than $250,000 be extended temporarily. However, after the midterm elections he expressed a willingness to perhaps temporarily extend all of the cuts. If Congress fails to act by December 31, 2010, the effective federal tax rates of all tax-paying Americans will increase to pre-Bush levels.

House Lamely Votes to Adjourn and Skips Vote on Taxes

To further cement the fact that Obama and Pelosi are no longer in the driver's seat, many House Democrats voted not to adjourn today and Pelosi barely won the adjournment motion by a 210-209 vote. The 39 Democrats voting against adjournment did so after Minority Leader John Boehner urged them to stay and force a vote to extend the Bush tax cuts. Boehner said that those voting to adjourn would be "putting their election above the needs of [their] constituents."

Not surprisingly, the 39 who voted "no" are involved in heated races across the country and have joined Republicans in arguing for extending all of the tax cuts, in opposition to the President. They were Jason Altmire (PA), Gerry Connolly (VA), Travis Childers (MS), Joe Donnelly (IN), Steve Driehaus (OH), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Frank Kratovil (MD), Walt Minnick (ID) Tom Perriello (VA), John Adler (NJ), Michael Arcuri (NY), Melissa Bean (IL), Tim Bishop (NY), Bobby Bright (AL), Chris Carney (PA), Chet Edwards (TX), Bill Foster (IL), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ), Martin Heinrich (NM), Mary Jo Kilroy (OH), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ), Betsy Markey (CO), Jim Marshall (GA), Mike McIntyre (NC), Mike McMahon (NY), Jerry McNerney (CA), Mike Michaud (ME), Harry Mitchell (AZ), Patrick Murphy (PA), Glenn Nye (VA), Gary Peters (MI), Mark Schauer (MI), Heath Shuler (NC), Zack Space (OH), Gene Taylor (MS) and Dina Titus (NV). Three House Democrats who are running for Senate, Brad Ellsworth (IN), Charlie Melancon (LA) and Joe Sestak (PA) also voted against adjournment.

Look for all of these people to lose come November.  It's too late, fellas.

The Last Ditch Effort of House Dems

Because Pelosi knew she didn't have the numbers, she pushed off a vote on the expiring Bush tax cuts until after the November elections. However, she couldn't prevent some of her Democratic House members from voicing their opposition to the President's plan to extend only some of the tax savings. A group of 47 House Democrats sent her a letter today, detailing their wish to continue all of the Bush-era tax cuts and "breaking ranks" with Obama and Pelosi, as they failed to do during the health care debate. 

The letter addressed Pelosi and urged her to maintain current tax levels as, "Raising taxes...could discourage individuals and businesses from saving and investing." The letter was signed by several vulnerable freshman hoping to keep their seats in the fall. 

I hate to break it to the 47, but no amount of letter writing can undo the health care and stimulus legislation they helped enact. When they go to the polls, voters will not forget that they traded favors for votes on critically important legislation that the country did not want.