L.A. Times Calls Extension of Tax Cuts “Spending”
Which, it isn’t. It is simply maintaining the current tax structure to allow people to keep more of their own money.
That doesn’t stop the editors from spinning like a top:
A top advisor to President Obama said Sunday a $858-billion package of tax cuts and jobless benefits will pass Congress without major changes, despite a revolt by some House Democrats.
. . . .
[Republican Rep. Paul] Ryan, asked about the effect of $858 billion in new deficit spending, said the GOP supported lowering tax rates and curbing spending. “We’re going to come out of the gates going after spending: spending cuts, spending controls and reforms of the structure of spending,” he said.
Did anyone ask him about the effect of $57 billion of unfunded spending in unemployment benefits, together with maintaining the current tax structure? Because that’s what’s actually going on.
Not that you’d know that reading this article.
By that logic, failure to enact tax increases in California was “spending” since tax revenues went down even with fixed rates.
Kevin M (298030) — 12/12/2010 @ 5:01 pmThe MFM and the Dems are constitutionally incapable of being honest and not mendoucheous when it comes to taxes.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 5:31 pmI was going to say something, then realized that Dustin had said it very well en passant in the CS Lewis thread, and it bears transplanting to this thread.
I know, the government owns all the money, so it ‘costs’ them money not to tax all of it away.
kishnevi (2a51a4) — 12/12/2010 @ 5:54 pmComment by Dustin — 12/11/2010 @ 8:38 am
We’ve always been at war with Eastasia.
Beldar (8b6816) — 12/12/2010 @ 6:35 pmWell, if a reduction in a planned budget increase is a “budget cut” then I guess keeping the tax rates where they are instead of increasing them could be “spending”…
maybe…
My brain hurts…
kimsch (0c8d1a) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:00 pmIf reducing the rate of growth from 10% growth to 5% growth is referred to as a cut, then this makes sense. The other aspect of this is that Teh Narrative seems to be forming around this being a stimulus. So now, maintaining the status quo is a stimulus.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:06 pmTeam R should have insisted on an up or down vote on retaining the existing rates. By sprinkling in the silly FICA tax cut they’ve given president bumblef for reals tax cutting bona fides what his media can spin however they like.
That was an ungodly stupid thing to do.
happyfeet (c0d821) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:15 pmEveryone knows the top 1% are more important than the out of work average guy. Leave no CEO behind. Maybe we can get them to believe in the trickle down fantasy.
leo (a5a81f) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:35 pmKrauthammer was peddling that narrative, JD, and a lot of conservatives seemed to uncritically accept that “stimulus” narrative because he was bagging on Obama — when they should have been rejecting the assumption that retaining tax cuts is somehow “spending.”
Patterico (c218bd) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:36 pmLeo lurvs a little class warfare and outright envy.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:51 pmLeo illustrates the fuzzy thinking of the left: the top wage earners will be getting nothing (no increase or decrease in taxes), the out of work average guy will be getting something (another 13 months of unemployment benefits), but somehow that all means that the top wage earners are coming out ahead on the deal.
Some chump (e84e27) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:51 pmKrauthammer was full of it for the most part.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:52 pmthe FICA thingy is the stimulative part – to the extent that a year’s worth is stimulative of anything
I think they’ll have a hard time not extending it. But of course people won’t know until the last minute.
Americans must really love to be jerked around.
They didn’t used to.
happyfeet (c0d821) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:53 pmWasn’t it the GOP plan for these tax cuts to expire?
leo (a5a81f) — 12/12/2010 @ 7:59 pmPeople like ” Leo” are useful.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:00 pmAmericans deserve better than silly tax cut drama year after year while their once-proud little country declines into a tawdry dirty socialist state of dissipation.
Pick a rate, losers. And stick to it. Let America focus on something other than adjusting to the whims of our loser politicians.
Stop jacking off on our tax code please.
Yes that includes you, Paul Ryan.
happyfeet (c0d821) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:08 pmI assume the Republican leadership didn’t want to let the Democrats define them as the Party who would deny unemployment benefits to needy people right before Christmas.
DRJ (d43dcd) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:09 pmMaybe “Leo” could explain the circumstances behind the 10 years. I doubt it, but maybe.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:11 pmlet the Democrats frame however they want… this was a bad deal for America…
we expect that from bumblef and the dirty socialists… we’re really quite lost if we tolerate it from Team R I think
happyfeet (c0d821) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:13 pmThis should be stopped. Let the next Congress try to get it right. This Congress is incapable of doing it right.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:14 pmAgain, wasn’t it the GOP plan for the tax cuts to expire?
leo (a5a81f) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:15 pmYou can ask that a million time, “Leo”‘ and all it will prove is that you are a twatwaffle.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:16 pmIs there some reason JD would rather call childish names instead of answer the question?
leo (a5a81f) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:18 pm“I assume the Republican leadership didn’t want to let the Democrats define them as the Party who would deny unemployment benefits to needy people right before Christmas.”
DRJ – As with previous extensions of unemployment benefits, any complaints from the Republican side I believe stem from the unfunded status of the extensions, especially given the passage of the Pay-Go mandate by the Democrats. Democrats seem constitutionally incapable of cutting spending elsewhere to expand spending in new areas or to even consider using things like unused TARP funds for such expenditures.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:21 pm“Is there some reason JD would rather call childish names instead of answer the question?”
leo – Perhaps it is in response to the childish comment with which you entered this thread. You never know, but if you want to be taken seriously, sometimes you have to act serious.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:22 pmYelverton is tiresome, under every name. “Leo” either does not know about A) reconciliation rules, and/ or B) negotiation due to Dem opposition.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:23 pmWhat, that trickle down is a lie?
leo (a5a81f) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:24 pmGood Allah.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:25 pmThanks, I’m glad we’ve established the GOP designed the tax cuts to expire and now are pushing the lie of trickle down to pay back their supporters, this at the expense of the deficit. Thanks for the clarification.
leo (a5a81f) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:35 pmYou established nothing, William therapist hilljack Yelverton.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:38 pmBarack Obama is pushing the extension of the current tax rates. Bill clinton is doing so. And the Dems control both houses of Congress, and the White House. so you can take your bullshlt talking points an shove them back up your arse, where you pulled them from.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:39 pmThe idea that William Yelverton now cares about the deficit, in light of what the Dems have done in but 2 short years,is laughable.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:40 pmJust so we are abundantly clear, “leo” most assuredly is William the midget plagiarist skin flute player Yelverton.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:41 pmleo is JT is Bill is pam is Yelverton and all his other names.
We give him sanctuary here and treat him nice because he hates Jeff Goldstein. I read it somewhere so it must be true.
Anyway, I figured you guys knew that but in case there was any doubt …
Patterico (c218bd) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:42 pmNow that the GOP is in control of congress, all this problems will soon be over. Hallelujah!
The Emperor (4bc2e1) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:44 pmNo, chimperor, the GOP is only marginally better.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:45 pmleo – There was no reason for Republicans to design the tax cuts to expire because King Bush II’s Glorious Imperial War For Oil and World Hegemony was intended to produce perpetual government surpluses and prosperity. Only the meddling of the feckless Democrat Socialist wreckers in Congress in their efforts to punish individual success and initiative and pander to special interest groups for votes in this country resulted in sunsetting the tax cuts.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/12/2010 @ 8:49 pmDaleyrocks – I wonder why Yelverton wants to raise taxes on every single American.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:08 pmYou know what I like about a troll such as leo? He thinks he knows everything, yet he knows nothing (I’m assuming the gender because of the user name).
The United States Government has enough revenue to manufacture gold, diamond-encrusted toilet seats for every man, woman and child in this nation.
Frankly, I don’t know why it doesn’t done so with Democrats ruling the White House and Congress while they have the chance. It’s reign would live forever.
The problem is spending. Even Boehner managed to get this across between sobs during his interview with Leslie Stahl on 60 Minutes. I watch it so you don’t have to.
And, by the way, what a useless waste of airtime. The whole point was to make sure everyone knows Boehner is a cry-baby — in the sense that he cares about the nation and his family.
In the end, all that happened was some sort of strange comparison between a compassionate family man and a narcissistic wanna-be while this weird, pale-white, witch-queen continued to try to enchant some sort of response that would result in an a condemnation of the Tea Party.
It was a bit similar to SyFy, without the entrails.
Ag80 (e828a4) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:08 pmIt’s just Professor Yelverton again. The diverse nicknames thing is getting weird. Why does he do it? To avoid moderation? Or that multiple personality syndrome illness?
I keep seeing him wearing socks on his hands like puppets, arguing with himself in creepy fake voices.
Eric Blair (4ec5b6) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:15 pmAg80 – it is allegedly a male. There is no actual evidence of same, except for William being an odd girl name.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:18 pmAnd, by the way, what a useless waste of airtime. The whole point was to make sure everyone knows Boehner is a cry-baby — in the sense that he cares about the nation and his family.
Ag80, unfortunately Lesley Stahl’s stunning arrogance and condescension were distracting from Boehner’s great personal story. If he were the exact same person becoming emotional about his journey from a blue collar working town to the halls of Congress and had a D after his name, Stahl would have been wiping away her own tears.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:32 pmWell, since Patterico has confirmed that leo is Yelverton and is whatever new name it may come up with, does it concern anyone else that it may be a college instructor?
I have no problem with anyone doing anything during their spare time. Heck, I post here.
However, I have a kid in college. Is this really the best that higher education has to offer?
Maybe I should be encouraging my remaining high school child to try plumbing. It’s honest work.
Ag80 (e828a4) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:32 pmI keep having Yelverton moments first there was this which I thought was the mostest Yelverton thing ever then I click on this and bam at 22 seconds into this song we have a dirty hippy magical musical kitty moment, which, that is also very very quintessential Yelverton
I think I might like the dirty hippies though I haven’t decided … not this song this one sucks – but I’m gonna decide this next week about the rest of them
happyfeet (c0d821) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:32 pm“Daleyrocks – I wonder why Yelverton wants to raise taxes on every single American.”
JD – It’s the equality of outcome thing. I thought I hinted at that in #37.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:34 pmAg – not may. Is. Though lute strumming hardly classifies him as an academic.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:35 pmDaleyrocks – the want equality of misery. I get it now.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:35 pm“Daleyrocks – the want equality of misery. I get it now.”
JD – Exactly, except for the elite running things, which for some reason they all assume they will be part of. I don’t think they’ve worked the details out on that part yet.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:39 pmBack to the OP, though, spending is the problem.
All questions from the media to every one who has the power to make a difference seems to be the same:
How will we continue to fund a bloated government without raising the existing tax on the rich?
It’s a stupid question designed only to inflame class animosity for political gain.
The real question is how do people assist the government in understanding a major paradigm shift that says the money they spend is not its, but ours.
Educating the media would take too long, and honestly, is not necessary anymore.
Ag80 (e828a4) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:53 pmThe idea that tax cuts create deficits is another one of their assuming canards, as Yelverton dutifully spit out above.
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 9:59 pmWhat book has more blank pages?
AD-RtR/OS! (6dbf61) — 12/12/2010 @ 10:07 pm“The Collected Wisdom of Spiro Agnew”; or,
“What Leftists Can Teach Us About Economics”?
Those books have the same number of words as “things William Yelverton knows that are actually true”
JD (eb5afc) — 12/12/2010 @ 10:16 pmPatterico got something wrong in this post. It’s not entirely true that the bill would maintain the current tax structure. The bill changes the estate tax.
Under current law, in 2009 there was an exemption of $3.5 million and a top rate of 45%, in 2010 there was no estate tax, and 2011 there would be an exemption of $1 million and a top rate of 55%. With this bill, there would be an exemption of $5 million and a top rate of 35%. So this is a new tax cut, unless you want to fixate on the 1-year 2010 holiday and look at things relative to that, in which case it’s a tax hike.
http://www.wealth-transfer.com/taxtable_fed.htm
Foo Bar (c1726e) — 12/12/2010 @ 10:56 pm“So this is a new tax cut”
Foo Bar – It’s a tax cut only for the estates of people who die. Getting hyper technical, as is your won’t, how does the agreement conflict with Patterico’s opening statement that it allows people to keep more of their money. It doesn’t. Dead people don’t keep any of their money. Focusing on the class warfare provisions which affect a small number of taxpayers does showcase your priorities.
You also did not mention the AMT fix, which would represent a tax cut to the extent more people don’t fall under it. You also failed to nit pick him for some other provisions. You’re slipping.
daleyrocks (c07dfa) — 12/13/2010 @ 12:22 amleo the liar-hearted spittled:
8. Everyone knows the top 1% are more important than the out of work average guy.
— This bill, as the haters on the left are so quick to remind you, does BOTH.
14. Wasn’t it the GOP plan for these tax cuts to expire?
— NO. It was the only way to get them passed, over the objections of Dems, at the time. Some “professor” you are!
29. Thanks, I’m glad we’ve established the GOP designed the tax cuts to expire
Icy Texan (8de0af) — 12/13/2010 @ 1:54 am— All we’ve established is that you’re wrong.
and now are pushing the lie of trickle down to pay back their supporters,
— And those of us that are not politicians, have no “supporters,” but are “pushing the lie” anyway?
this at the expense of the deficit.
— Cut spending and there will be no “expense” for the deficit.
Thanks for the clarification.
— Someone had to make sense of your acid-trip ramblings.
Envy is such an unbecoming emotion, and isn’t goog for one’s mental health. You may want to seek therapy.
lovey 2010 9/10 (388e08) — 12/13/2010 @ 3:02 amIt is because Democrats don’t have the first fucking idea of what the difference between spending and financing is.
Democrats are concerned about how to finance the $858 billion they can no longer get from us.
If they were really concerned about spending … well.
Torquemada (15521c) — 12/13/2010 @ 5:03 amIsn’t this basically the same thing Charles Krauthammer said? I have to admit, I do agree with CK 90% of the time, but his characterization of the tax deal as a trilliion dollar swindle fits into the 10%. Both CK and the LAT seem to think that tax cuts, whether they be social security payroll tax cuts or income tax cuts are spending.
Terrye (3d4bc9) — 12/13/2010 @ 6:06 am42.And, by the way, what a useless waste of airtime. The whole point was to make sure everyone knows Boehner is a cry-baby — in the sense that he cares about the nation and his family.
Ag80, unfortunately Lesley Stahl’s stunning arrogance and condescension were distracting from Boehner’s great personal story. If he were the exact same person becoming emotional about his journey from a blue collar working town to the halls of Congress and had a D after his name, Stahl would have been wiping away her own tears.
Comment by Dana — 12/12/2010 @ 9:32 pm
This is absolutely true. Boehner grew up poor in a huge working class family. He really did come a long way.
Terrye (3d4bc9) — 12/13/2010 @ 6:09 amStahl also shows her journalistic acumen, by saying Boehner is third in line from the Presidency, hello
narciso (6075d0) — 12/13/2010 @ 6:11 amthat would make him, whoever the President Pro temp is.