E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Susan Walsh / AP
President Barack Obama speaks to continue to push Congress to act to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance through the end of the year, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, in the Old Executive Office building on the White House complex.
President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's hopeful Congress will renew a 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax before it lapses at the end of the month, but said it's important to also renew jobless benefits for millions of the long-term unemployed as well.
"Just pass this middle-class tax cut. Pass the extension of unemployment insurance," Obama said at a White House appearance. "Do it before it's too late and I will sign it right away."
Chuck Todd and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., join Morning Joe to discuss the president's budget.
Obama made his remarks a day after House GOP leaders dropped plans to require spending cuts to cover the nearly $100 billion cost of extending the payroll tax cut through the end of the year. The Republicans decided instead add it to the nation's $15 trillion-plus debt.
Recommended: First thoughts — Here we go again
The GOP turnabout could rile fiscal conservatives but party leaders want to make doubly sure they don't get the political blame in case the tax cut — which delivers $20 a week to a typical worker making a $50,000 salary — is terminated.
"Washington shouldn't hike taxes on working Americans right now," Obama said. "But that's exactly what's going to happen at the end of this month, in a couple of weeks, if Congress doesn't do something about it."
In the Democratic-majority Senate, a top leader said the proposal was "a major step forward" even as other Democrats worried it could jeopardize efforts to renew unemployment benefits for millions of the long-term jobless and efforts to forestall a scheduled cut in fees to doctors who treat Medicare patients. Those proposals would remain in the hands of a House-Senate negotiating panel that's looking for spending cuts to defray the deficit impact.
The idea is sure to be a topic of conversation Tuesday at the weekly closed-door conferences of Senate Democrats and Republicans, and House Republicans will gather Tuesday evening to discuss it as well.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy of California said Monday the House could vote on the payroll tax measure this week but the renewal of jobless benefits and the Medicare "docs' fix" still would have to be paid for with spending cuts elsewhere.
The GOP statement came after intense talks over the weekend failed to produce an agreement. Republicans were pressing for pay cuts for federal workers and requiring them to contribute more to their pensions. They recoiled at a Democratic proposal to raise Transportation Security Administration per-ticket airline security fees.
"Democrats' refusal to agree to any spending cuts in the conference committee has made it necessary for us to prepare this fallback option to protect small business job creators and ensure taxes don't go up on middle-class workers," the GOP leadership statement said.
Without action by Congress by the end of the month, payroll taxes will rise for 160 million Americans. The 2-percentage-point tax cut would deliver a tax cut totaling $2,000 this year for someone making a $100,000 salary.
Democrats were encouraged and said the development could break an impasse over the payroll tax proposal and the other expiring provisions.
"This is a major step forward in these negotiations," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.
"We've been making the point that when (it comes to) tax cuts for folks at the very top, the House Republicans went to great lengths to change their rules to say you don't have to pay for those," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. "And yet they've been saying that when it comes to a short-term, 10-month payroll tax cut for middle-income people, all of a sudden you have to pay for it."
But Democrats warned that decoupling the payroll tax from the larger legislation could jeopardize efforts to renew the jobless benefits and the fix to the Medicare payment formula.
"It's completely irresponsible to leave behind nearly 5 million unemployed Americans whose benefits will expire and 47 million seniors and disabled Americans whose access to health care would be jeopardized," said Rep. Sander Levin, D-Mich., a member of the 20-lawmaker House-Senate negotiating panel.
"There is no reason all three of these priorities cannot proceed at the same time," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said.
The GOP move reflects a desire by party leaders to avoid a political hit if the payroll tax expires at the end of the month. And it would avoid burdening businesses with uncertainties regarding their payroll systems. On the other hand, jobless benefits lapsed four separate times — including a seven-week interruption — in 2010, and delays in adopting the Medicare fix can be dealt with by delaying the processing of Medicare claims.
"It is prudent for our leadership to take whatever action is necessary to ensure American workers are not hit with a tax increase on March 1," said Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., the lead GOP negotiator.
The White House did not embrace the House leadership idea.
"We are willing to work with them to offset it in a responsible way," White House press secretary Jay Carney said. "And we expect Congress to get its work done and to extend it — the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance and the doc fix." But Carney added, "Let's just see how this process plays out."
The move by the GOP leadership still would leave it to negotiators to come up with $30 billion or $40 billion in deficit savings to extend jobless benefits averaging about $300 a week to people who have been out of work for more than six months. Republicans have pressed to cut the number of weeks from the maximum 99 permitted under current policies and economic conditions down to as few as 59 weeks. They also are pressing to require people receiving unemployment to enroll in GED classes and allow states to condition benefits on the passage of drug tests.
Leave a Comment:
You can almost bet that Republicans will load up ANY bill with pork barrell spending or something else unacceptable just to stop any bill that helps the American people from passing.
Any bill loaded with spending will be welcomed by the Dems.
American girl, what a sad people the liberals are. Do you and others really and truly understand where the payroll tax cut money is coming from? Do you really? And do you and liberals understand the consequences of this? It is taking money out that would go in to Social Security. That's right, social security. In the amount of 100's of billions total. The fund since 2010 is paying out more than it is taking in, along with Medicare. If you have 1,000 in the bank and you are withdrawing $50, but only putting $25 in to it, what is going to happen? Come on, easy for even liberals. Eventually, you run out of money. Then, what happens if you take $50 out and only put $15 in? That's right, you run out of money faster. This is what is happening to SSI with the payroll tax cut. I am sure you and other liberals will answer, tax the rich. How pathetic. You can tax every single millionaire and take every penny they make and you still cannot pay for one year's deficit from obama. If we keep taking from SSI, it will run out of money sooner. This does not take a rocket scientist to figure this out. It just takes a person that has common sense to understand and care about what is going on.
So your argument is that the payroll tax hurts Social Security, but not making millionaires and billionaires pay more in taxes is beneficial? We do understand, but we see things differently. Social Security can be fixed. Right now millions of people are living at or near poverty level. The question is, do you try to stop the bleeding now OR do you keep it in a blood bank for later? Americans need help right now, today.
whoooo lets back that truck up here a minute.. When the Bush Tax rates were being discussed..
The Dems were saying that they were not raising taxes, they were letting temp cuts expire. THEN when they did extend the Bush Tax rates, that taxes were not cut but current tax rates were being kept in place..
SO NOW when it is a democrat tax issue... All of that is out the window and it is now a tax increase and a tax cut..
1 question... Exactly how long should we be extend U.E. Its at 99 weeks now almost two years.. How much longer are we going to pay people to sit around instead of taking work that is there.
Same hogwash different day..
Mark, here is the thing about Social Security. People pay into it to get benefits out when they retire. If politicians keep their hands on that money then the money will be there when they retire. The only thing that reducing the amount that we pay into Social Security does is make it take longer for us to reach the cap on how much we can draw out in benefits. I've still got 25 years to retirement, but thanks to fairly well paying jobs early on in my life I've already maxed out that cap and regardless of how much I pay in at this point I will never get any more money out of it than if I retired right now. Other than the whole having a penalty to your benefits if you retire early. To get full benefits right now I'd have to become disabled.
In short the 2% reduction has no effect on me in the long term, but in the short term I lost those high paying jobs to the recession and am now working for half what I was. Considering I am getting paid less an hour and working fewer hours.
We must CUT SPENDING NOW. This idea of addressing our country's economic mess with tax hikes is just naive. As Obama continues to campaign and Reid...well he just does NOTHING; our country slips closer to economic ruin.
Dear Obama...while I appreciate your desire to continue spending money we don't have I ask you to FISRT AND FOREMOST take a hatchet to the Fed budget. Starting with Obama care. Show us you have the gumption to make hard choices and we can address the idea of giving the Govt a raise (aka Tax hikes).
Sincerely, YOUR BOSS
Lol at "liberals" screaming at the mean republicans because they want to stop Obamney from robbing the SS trust fund.
Wait what?
Lols.
Republicans want to pay for unemployment benefits with cuts to Medicare just watch.
Ryan already signaled that cutting Medicare is in the GOP budget plan. Of course they will say that they are "fixing or reforming" it.
@A Lil Common Sense. I know. It gives new meaning to damed if you do and damed if you don't.
@Eric....why don't you ask the Dem leaders for spending cut suggestions. Or are you okay with Reid just sitting on his hands and watching from the sidelines, so as to not get hurt politically. While Obama puts absolutely UNREAL budgets together...for 2013 no less, as if 2012 has been solved.
The Dem leaders of this country need to "get a glove and get in the game".
As long as the Teapublicans have a "grover" in the game, America is screwed. All those guys have been doing is throwing foal balls for the last 3 plus years.
Substitute 'Republicans' with 'Democrats' and you'll have it right. The Republicans are the ones fighting to cut spending to pay for the tax cut extension. It's the Democrats trying to load up the bill with additional spending (unemployment benefit extensions, etc.). The only reason the Republicans are conceding on the spending cut on this particular bill is to help ensure that the Democrats will pass it. Our debt is mounting by the minute, Congress has stalled any and all attempts by the WH to go deeper into debt, but they get blasted for being a 'do nothing' Congress. Thank God they are 'do nothing' - everything that has been sent to them includes even more spending...
Yep, Mr. Obama WANTS more UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. Where does these unemployment benefits stop ? Oh yeah, the day you pass away. And where oh where is all this $$$ coming from ? Oh yeah, the Democrats favorite pot: Social Security.
Comon, Liberals. Mr. (and Mrs.) Obama has/have not POSTED his/her "Truth Team" points on this issue yet.
Terrible, isn't it, Mr. Obama telling Liberals what to say since they cannot think for themselves. If you don't get the right talking points directed to the right article, the Obama Team will NOT be very happy.
@ldo -- Unemployment benefits stop when someone receiving the UI benefits lands a job. That's a no-brainer for most people. Why do you not understand that?
You want to end the unemployment benefits? Easy to do. All that is required is to create jobs.
The government can spend money on unemployment - or - the government can spend money on welfare and food stamps - or - the government can spend money on works projects to provide employment.
Otherwise, when unemployment is high enough - you will begin screaming for government spending to protect you from the unemployed. You will be screaming for government spending for prisons to warehouse the unemployed.
No matter what the government is going to be required to spend money. The money can be spent productively to provide employment for people - or - the money can be spent unproductively to warehouse and control the unemployed.
Raise the cap on income subject to the tax and it will easily be paid for. In fact, it could easily make the system solvent for many years to come.
Ah...the old liberal playbook. "How do we pay for it?.....by taxation".
I emailed one of my Democratic senators to tell him I opposed this continued defunding of SS and he trotted out the old "it's not the time to raise taxes" rubbish. I suspect I'll be dead of old age before the right time comes along.
Vote them all out. Buying votes with our dollars, like usual. Where are the Tea Party Republicans when we need them? Have they been corrupted by Washington already?
Starving SS of funds is another way of turning it into a means tested, welfare for the elderly program (which I actually endorse). However this is not the way to do it. Be upfront, man up, and be honest with the American people about it.
Mark-384387...there should be an easy solution to the debt problem this country faces..and that is jobs...not one politican had talked about the creation of real jobs....congress has done wonders to kill jobs..handing out tax breaks to companies that leave here for more and higher profits...and thern allowed to ship them in cheaply to this country. The problem I see is this...most of these products being sent to this country today are not all that cheap. name brand products have not reduced their prices...most have gone up.This was once a country of the people and by the people...all of them...that is no more. We, this country, are headed toward becoming another third world nation ...and congress and the wealthy in search of more profits , are helping us along at a good clip...and could care less.
Maybe I'm missing something. So Obama is OK with extending his tax-cut but is up in arms about extending the Bush era tax cuts since the day he came into office. Double standard or just political theater :-(
Ah Raider, same old Party Line huh?! Mr. Boehner clearly stated "we dont have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem". Moreover, R. Reagan of the Reaganomics Fame, raised taxes 11 times. You know that. I know that. It would be nice from time to time, if Republicans would just own up. I'm not opposed to raising taxes as we are in times of need. Remember also that the wealthier you are the greater the responsibility. It also gets a bit old when you continually go to the "the debt we leave our children". Every generation since the beginning of the country has left the new generation the problems created by the previous one. That's not a talking point. Its in the vein of "death panels". We have immediate problems now. The future sorts itself out. We are either all in this together or we are not. I guess time will tell.
uh Skip.....what are you talking about? I've never mentioned the following that you've quoted me. You need to be more careful cause you got me mixed up with someone else.
However I will address your initial topic of raising taxes. It's as simple as the old saying, "first things first". Logic would dictate that we address our SPENDING problem first. I think we might agree there but hard to tell where you stand. I'm fine with taking a look at the tax issues and believe there are areas that could increase tax revenues. But that is for later AFTER we've CUT off Obama's credit card.
Why would you expect this from Republicans when the Dems (Reid & Obama) REFUSE to address the bigger problem of SPENDING? Are you okay with how Reid does NOTHING? And Obama breaks his campaign promise of reducing the spending started by Bush? Why can't Obama demonstrate some leadership and get some cuts going? We hired him to make TOUGH decisions (spending cuts among others). Not EASY ones, like continued spending under the guise of "stimulus".
The only thing keeping this insanity from imploding is the insanely low interest rates. If we are not careful interest rates will start to shoot through the roof. Then we will be in big trouble and all the tax hikes in the world won't help us.
I can only assume that if ones payment into social security is reduced that ones possible benefit will be reduced accordingly. One may not realize this until it is time to receive benefits. If the program were managed properly then there should be no negative financial consequences as far as the government is concerned. If the payroll tax it permanently eliminated then the social security system will phase our. The day will come when no one is eligible to receive any benefits. What the President wants is a good way of starting to get rid of the entire social security system.
How ridiculous is it that we know congress is guilty of insider trading (which is illegal by the way) and none of these crooks have been arrested? They in fact still run OUR government.
Most of us older people where fortunate enough to be fully employed for most of our lives, therefore payed all of our income taxes, social security taxes ,medical benefit taxes and anything more that our governments came up with ,so do not say that you can not afford to pay us with your I repeat your money .No one is asking you to,We are receiving our , yes, our benefits, that we yes ,we payed for. I also strongly feel that all of you people that object to extending benefits to people who where let go , through no fault of their own are a bunch of pity less b s rds. and I hope that you ,in the next depression will experience some of the horrible problems that most of the un employed are .experiencing at this terrible time .
With regards of unemployment benefits, why is everyone so up in arms about how to pay for them. There should be plenty of money in the till. You have over 150 million people contributing, but only 8 million pulling from the fund currently. Once again, the government making an entitlement out of something that we are all reguired to pay regardless if we use it. Luckily I've never had to draw, but would like to know it's there should I need and as long as I need it.
well well well the GOP realized they had a losing hand and decided to pass the bill. If only they would realize their entire agenda is a losing hand and just GO AWAY
You realize that they will find some way to punish us for this, right? For some reason when dealing with them, I feel that we're the child and either we do what they want or we'll be sorry. I had heard my entire life that the Republicans were for the rich, only now do I understand just how much and what they'll do to protect them. There must be millions and millions of rich out there...much more than the middle class.
oldladyisback-
actually the thing they FEAR is we outnumber them and the power of the ballot scares the x!@$% out of them. That's why they always look for wedge issues- gays, guns, and now religious freedom and contraceptives. They also look for ways to diminish the vote by suppressing the right to vote- think back to Florida in 2000- the Presidential's candidates brother uses the Sec of State of Florida to remove what was it 75,000 names of likely DEMOCRAT voters. Today it is voter ID cards and tightening early voting rights.
Yeah, they believe in democracy------NOT
Everything you've posted is right on the money! All that's happening right now has been years in the making. Twenty years or more ago, the Koch Brothers funded these "think tanks" whose strategies have been set in motion right now. Some of the Supreme Court Justices have attended some of their gatherings...need we say more? So we have these newly elected Governors, etc. enacting these new voting rights legislation under the guise of voter fraud. Brewer in Arizona didn't like the new zones an independent group had agreed on, so she tried to get rid of the president of that group making their decision null and void. So far, she hasn't been able to do so. This year is shaping up to "the perfect storm" on our voter rights and the only thing we'll have left is our VOTE! Now, more than ever, people have to get out and VOTE or we'll be screwed for years to come.
know who the koch boys daddy was?
a leader of the john birch society. The apple(s) dont fall from the tree
Waits for the Republican spin.
@oldlady. You couldn't be MORE wrong. The LARGE majority of Republicans are NOT rich...just like me. Don't be fooled b/c you don't see many of them on blogs like this complaining all day. Trust me they r out there and will be at the voter booths.
And for the record....I voted Dem most my adult life before the party was hijacked by the likes of Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi and now Obama. Todays Dem party makes Clinton look like a conservative.
Again, Old lady and the rest of you libs espousing making higher earners pay MORE taxes (which they already do).
You could simply STEAL ALL of the money from the top 1% of earners, the very richest of ALL Americans...and it wouldn't come close to reigning in the debt. It would run the country for about 3 months. So, try another fiscal argument that actually works, rather than spewing the false vomit so typical of the left...
I don't have enough for airfare to the Cayman Islands, let alone Switzerland so it would be hard to steal money from the "job creators" They have had 10 years in which their wealth has grown 275%... spewing false vomit? If their wealth has grown that much while the majority of Americans has decreased or stayed stagnant...Hell yes make them pay more. If all things were equal, this wouldn't happen, would it? Something is out of whack and has been for the last 30 years. So, again, I say they should be paying more!!
Just think for a minute. If you took 1000 billionaires and or big companies who have incomes or profits over say 5 billions dollars. Take 1 billion dollars away from each. That's 1 trillion dollars, over 10 years that's 10 trillion dollars. So we give it back to the government or better yet give it back to the people to spend.
I heard on CNN that the Greek's are in the same boat. Their billionaires are the ship builders and they are doing the same as our VERY RICH and WEALTHY people are doing, hoarding the billions of dollars for them selves, letting the middle class and poor people suffer, while they bath in luxury.
You didn't really type this. Please tell me your Republican son or someone just jumped on your computer and wants to make you look foolish.
Lady (and I'm trying to stay nice here). I'll GUARANTEE you I could look back at your expenses from the last 12 months and find where you spent your money in lieu of your desire for airfare.
What's next??? Liberals demanding more taxes so we can pay for their airfares also.
NOPE,
actually research Greece before spewing more false liberal vomit. Why is Greece in the financial ruin they are???? Hmm... MASSIVE ENTITLEMENTS!! DUHH!! They dont have to pay for food, they dont pay for education or college, they dont pay for healthcare, they dont pay for ANYTHING!!!! And its killing their economy, heck it already has!! Their people are not used to working, they have EVERYTHING handed to them by their government...which is why people are so mad that their government is now out of money to keep funding their failed lives!! And these are the SAME things liberals in the U.S. want for OUR citizens...FREE EVERYTHING! Entitlements account for nearly FIFTY Percent of our yearly budget and the cost is more every year. Most of this is paid for BY THE WEALTHIEST Americans, but thats not enough FOR SOCIALISTS like OldLady. OLDLADY, GO MOVE TO GREECE...everything you are advocating can already be found there. Stop bitching and moaning that the rich dont pay enough. Its not their fault that YOU MADE BAD decisions so you cant even afford a plane ticket. THATS YOUR PROBLEM AND its no one else's fault. Get over it and get a job.
I want the 90% rates from the Eisenhower Era and fook a republican . Look Roasnoaker thinks he lives in Greece . Ill bet hes a tax evader like all them socialist , commie , pinko , kenyans in greece .
Sarah palin makes you hot , Doesn't she ? Go ahead and admit it .The Truth will set all you Pinko , commo-Islam o Fascist's Free .
Wow Old Lady is Back - is smarter than Roanoke and all you right wing affectionados spewing you're daily BS
Go my dear you have figured it out
Carpenter/Barbara,
You guys are obviously simple-minded little mouthpieces who are not interested in objectivity. You merely projectile vomit from your wordholes the ideas that have been spoon-fed to you by other liberal sources because you are too dense and pathetic to actually understand the issues. Try reading and learning before pretending like you know what you are talking about, you wont look so intellectually weak next time and wont be an embarrassment to your party...
Carpenter, you obviously have NO IDEA what socialism or communism is! Those are left wing ideologies, retard. You merely make yourself look like a fool. And I bet Nancy Pelosi really does it for ya, right? "We have to pass the bill to find out what is in it" right? What a fu**in MORON. LOL.
Barbara, again, as evidenced by your failure to even attempt to debate the issues, you have shown yourself as a typical know-nothing liberal.
Carry on, bleeding hearts, carry on... LOL!
Simply amazing how hard all these poor Republicans fight in order to ensure that tycoon welfare stays intact!
You mean the welfare that liberals forced on us from the New Deal to the Great Society...welfare that has forced taxpayers to pay TRILLIONS of dollars over the decades giving the 'poor' all their food, utilities, and a providing a roof over their head...only to now have MORE POOR people and MORE POVERTY than ever before. Yep, those liberal welfare programs are really working well!!! Thanks Dems!!
You're right, simply amazing, especially considering that the liberals all say that taxpayers havent given enough!!! LOL.
@Barbara....I see you are a member of old lady's cheerleader squad. Coming to the aid of her liberal friend. I don't mean "coming to the aid" as in helping out with facts. I mean just another LOUDMOUTH with nothing of substance to offer. Cheerleading and calling conservatives names....very mature bunch.
Hey Barabara...why don't you take a minute and read the thread above before you lump yourself into the same group as old lady since she's clearly not willing to consider CLEAR FACTUAL points. Much less be objective. Now you look just as naive as she does
Totally agree. In fact to me it was very telling when no intelligent liberals came to their defense. The smart liberals have read this thread and left Old Lady and Barbara to fend for themselves. Don't see that too often. They usually circle the wagons and defend one another.
Raider,
I agree, one always knows the argument has been wonwhen the libbies resort to silence or just regurgitating talking points that have nothing to do with the issue being discussed. Thats victory music to me!
Funniest thing I'll hear all day.
Hey Roanoke, maybe if these "job creators" PAID an HONEST DAY'S WAGE FOR AN HONEST DAY'S WORK, we wouldn't need socialist reforms. Instead, the top are only concerned about keeping money at the top. I'm sure you'll be happy to eventually live in a studio walk-up and be fed that you should be "grateful" to have a place to live that has indoor plumbing, and have at least pig feet to eat.
Steph,
Gotcha, so you are a socialist who is totally cool with socialism in America. Just so we know where we stand. As for the "job creators paying an honest day's work," what does that even mean? What is an "honest wage"? List for me all the different kinds of jobs that have different salaries but give "honest wages' (Crickets chirping).
I actually work for a living so I am not worried about living in a "studio walk-up." I actually work for a living so I already have indoor plumbing. I actually work for a living, so I can already buy pigs feet if I choose. Sounds like you spend too much time at OWS instead of looking to better your own life...The government is not there to provide a living for you...
the republicans will do anything not to get the voters bad at them so close to an election, that's why they are coming to their senses. It has never been about republicans not thinking what Obama was doing was not right, it was about not wanting him to get america on track and make him look good but instead what they did was make themselves look bad, it's all about winning for them not the american people. so since trying to make Obama a one term President has not worked for them, they are changing their strategy. A devious bunch aren't they.
I need a paxil. What the conservatives want is for the constitution to be followed in all cases. Something the liberals and democrats do not understand. It is called separation of church and state.
mark-384387
the meaning of the constitution has been debated for years. Your side believes in "strict construction" our side believes the constitution is a "living document" meant to fit in to changing conditions.
Per the constitution the strict constructionalist T. Jefferson had no constitutional authority to purchase the Louisana territory but being pragmatic he went ahead anyway.
Mark, you shouldn't be making the separation of church and state argument. It will only come back to bite you.
How would a payroll tax cut come up against separation of church and state?
If you are referring to the debacle on requiring health insurance to cover brith control, constitutional experts have already said the rule is on firm constitutional ground. It's the same as thing as requiring religious institutions to follow child labor and civil rights laws. Or, say, not allowing Mormons to practice polygamy.
Churches can be separate from the state but still required to meet minimum standards of civilization.
We'll see what the scotus says. It will go that far.
No, it won't, it's just another stalking horse non-issue blown way out of proportion by the right. If you really think about it for 30 seconds, the Catholic church should be falling over to get this converage. It is proven to be the best way to prevent abortions, which the Catholics oppose. Of course, common sense and religious beliefs rarely coexist.
Umm...Jon...most Catholics vote for Democrats. And who has been up in arms the past 8 days over Obama's gross overreach of federal power into religious institutions? Yep, you guessed it...Catholics. Ouch, eh? But continue to blindly blame Republicans for being the ones who blew it out of proportion. Yeah......
It's not most Catholics who are up in arms, only a few Bishops, and every Republican in congress and pretending to run for President. Most of the Catholics actually want birth control covered. Polls of Catholics show a higher percentage backing the coverage than the US population as a whole, although both groups are in favor of it. 98% of catholics say they use birth control.
Those opposing are the ones blowing it out of proportion, and guess what, it's Republican politicians for the most part. I don't ever blindly blame, but groups that are responsible will be pointed out.
And constitutional experts have already stated, this is not an over-reach, and is constitutional.
I believe in two things in regard to things like this. Keep an open mind, and keep informed.
IT IS MOST of the Catholic HIERARCHY, Jon, that are up in arms and MOST are still against the mandate. Your polls are silly and deflective in nature (especially considering they most likely came from CBS and New York Times. LOL) Contraception is NOT the issue. Access is NOT the issue, even though liberals like to use it as the vehicle of their rallying cry to promote their agenda, to pull on the heartstrings of everyone else. There are free health clinics in nearly every city in America where ANYONE can get FREE contraceptive devices. This is about power and governmental overreach. It is NOT mine, yours, an employers, the Catholic church, or insurance companies' responsibility to PAY FOR the contraception of others. This is about forcing religious institutions to bow down to the heavy hand of the government, even if it means FORCING those instititutions to engage in activity that is against their doctrine.
Again, you keep blaming it on Republicans. Hmmmm, lets see what being TRULY informed leads to: Here are what just a few Democrats had to say concerning this issue:
"Several Democrats, including former Va. Governor and Senate candidate Tim Kaine in Virginia, West Va. Senator Jay Rockefeller and Illinois Rep. Dan Lipinski, have been outspoken in assailing the recently announced administration mandate."
"This is not only unacceptable, it is un-American," says Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
"Another Catholic Senator, Democrat Bob Casey of Pennsylvania sent a letter to Obama asking him: "to correct this decision which will erode the conscience rights that have been protected for decades."
"This was a bone-headed decision by HHS,” Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
“My position is that church-affiliated organizations should be exempt, not just churches. It’s a matter of religious freedom." Senator Bill Nelson of Florida.
Sen. Joe Lieberman, the independent from Connecticut who caucuses with Democrats: “I am opposed to the Administration’s new requirement that religious organizations must offer employees contraception benefits.”
Not to mention Democrats, Vice President Biden and Senator Kerry, practically screaming at Obama for a compromise, both promising all week long in the media that there WOULD be a compromise before Obama ever promised there would be...
And finally, lets not forget, the TRUE VOICE of reason for ALL LIBERALS, from RIGHT HERE on msnbc, your best man Chris Matthews: "“It gets to that interesting point to me, which is frightening, when the state tells the church what to do."
Yikes, eh? I like to be informed too, not just listen to one side...one simply becomes an ideological mouthpiece doing otherwise...but I'm sure you already knew that.
Most Catholic and Christian Leaders SHOULD REALLY stay out of politics . That erected wall of T Jefferson 's should come tumbling down. If the churches , wish to play Politics . They should no longer be tax exempt . Viola deficit and national debt solved over night .
Actually Mark should be making the argument of Separation of Church and State and when the Church oversteps their bounds then there no longer is a line and Churches lose their Tax Exempt Status
We have been far too lenient with them - enough - stick to your mission to convert and not to interfere with government
Carpenter/Barbara,
Wow, again, you guys really show that you dont understand the issues AT ALL. Carpenter, you could STEAL all the money from ALL the top 1% in this country, all that wealth...and it would only fund the government for a few months and wouldnt really decrease the national deficit. Your taking away tax exemption status from churches and CLAIMING that this would solve our national debt overnight IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! LOL. WOW.
Barbara, you are VERY confused. You tell the church NOT to interfere with government. REALLY??? You think thats what this is about?? IT IS THE GOVERNMENT INTERFERING WITH THE CHURCH. It is the government FORCING a religious institution to intentionally go against their own church doctrine. Hello??? Anybody in that dense noggin of yours? The church simply wants to be left alone and does not want to provide things that are against their religion. IF YOU DONT LIKE WHAT THEY OFFER THEN DONT WORK THERE!!!! YOU CHOOSE to work there! No one FORCES YOU TO WORK THERE. You know what the companies' policies are beforehand, so if you dont like what they offer you...THEN GET ANOTHER JOB or buy an insurance rider for cheap!!! But you dont get to FORCE all religious institutions to give you WHAT YOU think they should offer. Stick to what you know...which doesnt seem like very much at all...
Yup, give Obama exactly what he has been asking for. A straight forward extension of the reduction in the payroll tax. Then Obama can be held accountable for the increase in the debt that will result therefrom.Not to mention the negative impact on the fiscal security of SS. And the Repubs can remind the voters that continuing to run the government with Obama at the helm means more deficit spending and more debt while pointing to Obama's record setting deficit spending and debt creation he has engaged in in less than 4 years.
Yep, give him what he's asked for or STFU! Americans need jobs and the Teapublicans have given us zip, nil, nada, nyet! What good would a zero deficit matter if the majority of Americans have no jobs? There has to be a balance somewhere and the Teapublicans plan of cutting, cutting and more cutting without making the billionaires and millionaires pay a fairer tax won't cut it. We've been there, done that and look where we are?
that's not what they are after, they don't want anything negative to fall on them, (republicans) so close to elections, cause that is exactly what happened recently with republicans. They were on a downward spiral with voters. And of course since all they are after is to get a republican president (not what is best for the american people) they will do anything now, no matter what.
Wasn't it Reagan who said that deficit spending was good for the economy?
Ummmm....Oldlady...
in case your memory is bad or simply just selective. THE DEMOCRATS had a supermajority at the beginning of Obama's term, and DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED ALL OF CONGRESS, the House, the Senate, AND the presidency UNTIL 2010. Where are all the promised jobs? THE DEMOCRATS NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO PASS A BUDGET, AND STILL HAVENT PASSED A BUDGET. The last time Obama tried to pass a budget was LAST YEAR, and guess what?? IT GOT DESTROYED 97-0 in the DEMOCRAT-CONTROLLED Senate!! Not ONE Democrat voted for it! Yet, you sit here and blame the tea party? How pathetic can you be? Are you simply just a mouthpiece for your party, one who ignores ALL objective data? I guess so...
Oh, and by the way, millionaires and billionaires pay the vast majority of taxes in this country...but continue to blame THEM. WOW.
@old lady....You misunderstood (or didn't read) KingK's post.
@Roanoke...You should know better then to bring up such CONCRETE facts that fly in liberals face, lol. Liberals are too busy bowing to Obama and his 2013 budget to remember that 2011 & 2012 continue to slide by the wayside.
Yep, the libbies go running and always remain silent when confronted with facts. It's fun to watch.
(Crickets chirping)
Raider and Roanoke, if you are waiting or relying on the Teapublicans for CONCRETE FACTS or even liquid facts for that matter, you will be long dead and buried. No one is bowing to Obama, but fortunately the majority of Americans are finally seeing through your Conservative Bull&&& and coming around....thank God. It's hilarious that you guys always talk about facts when you wouldn't recognize them if they bite you in your collective a$$es! OBAMA 2012
Old lady, of course you didn't bother to point out ONE mistake or untruth did you? Typical. I guess you think I'll just believe you b/c you said so. Sorry facts are facts including those above. Please check for yourself....don't trust me.
Honestly Old lady I feel you're pain...we all do but your hatred for conservatives is misguided at best. And if you were able to look at Obama in an OBJECTIVE manner, you'd see where I'm coming from.
The problem is that I DO see where you're coming from. Most of the way you guys think is mistaken and I don't have time to lists the untruths. I don't hate conservatives, we just don't have the same "values", and yes, Democrats do have values believe it or not. All you Conservatives have done is bitch and moan, nothing constructive. Well 2012 will really give you something to bitch and moan about. OBAMA 2012
Bingo. See there isn't one point in this thread that has to do with "values" or morality. IT HAS TO DO WITH BUDGETS. Since when was math and dollars subjective? You obviously don't like knowing the truth behind the FACTS made in this thread b/c it paints a bad picture of Dems.
What you call "bitching & moaning" I call holding accountable. You just want to BLINDLY cheerlead for your team.
Yes, notice how OLDLADY is simply a mouthpiece. NOT ONE POINT OR SUBSTANTIVE ARGUMENT. NOT ONE. The majority of the Democrat Party is construed of people just like her. They have no idea what they are talking about, they simply get their talking points from liberal sources and when you confront them with facts...they all the sudden "dont have time" to have a substantive debate!! Thanks for providing us a WONDERFUL example of the pseudo-intellectualism that VASTLY permeates the Democrat Party, OLDLADY! They are all just parrots that simply recite what they have been spoon-fed without actually understanding anything. Ignorance is truly bliss, and OLDLADY proves that with EVERY post.
Oh, and the people are coming around, Oldlady? Really? Is that why Obama still has less than a 50% approval rating in all 12 swing states, swing states that have majority Catholic populations??? LOL. Oh, and now incumbent president has EVER been re-elected with approval numbers as low as Obama's. But yep, people are all coming around, for sure!! LOL.
So the last time the Republicans said that any tax breaks for the Middle Class had to be offset by Spending Cuts (of course they never apply that same requirement for Tax Cuts for the Wealthy).
But now suddenly they appear to be ok with middle class tax cuts that do not need to be offset.
losing political issue- finally woke up and realized better to move on. Now its contraceptives and religious freedom. God, gays, and guns the important stuff designed to divide and conquer cause we got the votes if we vote as a block.
Yeah, so what's your point? Upset that this might blow up in the Dems faces? It's called political warfare and while the Republicans aren't nearly as good as the Dems...they are learning to fight fire with fire.
Raider - get a grip - we have just been too polite - but with the latest attack you have raised our ire - enough with your BS we just aren't buying anymore
Get youself an orange crate go to your local park and try and sell your lies there - because you know what boy the general public isn't buying it either
Barbara,
Local park as in the one that your Democrat cronies in the OWS havent pooped or urinated in or destroyed with mounds of trash and sewage??? "Hey, look at me, I'm the base of the Democrat Party and I go live in a tent in some park and poop all over myself and urinate in the street and assault cops and do drugs and beat on the drums and wave anti-semitic flags all while pissing and moaning about what I dont have in this life." "Its not MY fault that I'm not where I want to be, it's someone else's fault, it's THE MAN'S fault." WAHHH!!! LOL.
The Democrat Party only exists because of their attack media, Barbara. It is the Democrat Party that is based on attack methods, again, please learn before vomiting out your false liberal tripe.
Barbara...the feeling is quite mutual. And while you continue to LOWER yourself into a "name calling" contest...I will continue to take the high road and keep this conversation on the up and up and about the topic at hand. Please tell me where my "last attack was". I take pride in not lowering my standards to YOUR level. Even when confronted by people such as yourself who have nothing intelligent to offer.
I'll assume that your upset over my last post. Let me explain...the Dems have been using this issue as a wedge. Thereby making the Republicans look like the "bad guy". Now the Republicans have GIVEN THE DEMS WHAT THEY WANTED (lower taxes WITHOUT spending cuts). Ironically many Liberals are still unhappy with this. It's called political warfare and the liberals are just upset that the Republicans DIDN'T TAKE THE BAIT this time.
More cuts to social security. That's what this is. Putting social security money into the hands of people to use any way they want. Too bad they didn't allow people to do that long ago--but this has always been a political club with which to beat each other over the head. I can't believe AARP is relatively silent about this.
AARP is silent because they understand how Social Security works and realize that this is going to have almost no impact.
A nearly 20% reduction in SS income will have no impact? You don't really believe that, do you? If true, why is it so bad to make this long term and allow private investment of that percentage reduction in the payroll tax currently in place and being used as a political football?
@Oldschool latin....maybe.
What you need to ask AND DEMAND to prevent SS cuts are SPENDING CUTS. Please try and see that we CAN NOT afford Obama's SPENDING. We must make serious cuts to the Fed budget NOW and in the meantime Obama is drawing up "pie in the sky" budgets for 2013. Who is he fooling...we never finalized 2011 much less 2012's budget.
Obama needs to show his country he can make tough choices (aka spending cuts)....NOT easy ones (spending money we don't have).
Raider. I agree 100%. The point of my post is to expose the hypocrisy of the left with SS. "Cutting the tax rate of SS: It's OK now but wasn't OK then." As to budgeting, the senate DEMS have probably forgotten what a budget looks like.
Gotcha. Sorry if I came across like on "my soap box".
I half expected to be reading posts from upset conservatives over not demanding spending cuts. Instead it's all this rhetoric from the left. They got what they wanted and are still upset.
I'm tired of this Liberal/Conservative nonsense because all it amounts to is GAMES.
The GOP wants to help the wealthy. Look at Romney's tax plan.
The Democrats want to help the Middle Class. Look at Obama's tax plan.
If you vote Republican and are not a millionaire, you are literally voting against your financial interests.
Any questions?
Raider - No we didn't get what we wanted - it was for the general public - you know the people - your neighbors, your children - and all Americans - got what they NEEDED a little breathing time
Are you unhappy with this? and if so why? Do you hate the general population of America so much?
Barbara, you have NO IDEA what you are talking about...
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN TAKING A FULL ONE-THIRD OF THE FUNDS GOING INTO SOCIAL SECURITY AT A TIME WHEN BABY BOOMERS ARE JUST STARTING TO SAP THE SYSTEM???? Democrats have NOT explained that at ALL. So, we are taking away ONE THIRD of the money that goes into SS so we can give $40 a paycheck extra to someone who earns $50,000 a year?!?!?! How is that worth it??? Social Security is already sapped, backed with fake money, and NOW, when the LARGEST RETIRING POPULATION IN DECADES is set to start drawing from SS, we remove ONE THIRD OF THE FUNDS that go into it???? Do you hate the next generation so much Barbara, that you are willing to take $40 more a paycheck KNOWING THAT there WILL BE NO SOCIAL SECURITY LEFT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS??? I guess you just hate America that much that $40 is worth it to you, eh? Not to mention that THE OWNERS GET TO KEEP 2%, so all the rich people you hate...are now getting to keep an extra 2% of their business income!! Way to go!! Add up all that money from ALL businesses and its BILLIONS OF DOLLARS every year that go right into the awful "man's" pocket instead of being put into the Social Security fund!!
Yep, Barbara and the DEMS HATE AMERICA, which is why they are destroying our future...
Barbara...tell it to your Dem leadership. IT CAME FROM THEM. What are you reading? You are CLEARLY confused.
Look Barbara...I appreciate your zest for your party. But by slamming me b/c I have a conservative opinion and obviously not reading up on topic at hand; much less offering anything specific to debate. You just make yourself look bad.
It looks like the GOP has finally abandoned the silly "tax cuts create more revenue" dogma.
Thermen
But isn't that what Obama said about extending the Bush Tax Cuts in Dec. 2010??
And I stand here today to say, in my view, our fight has paid off. Most economists, many of whom are in this room, will tell you this plan will grow our economy in the next year. And it's going to help millions of families keep their jobs, if they have one, and keep their unemployment benefits if they don't, and keep their tax relief, and keep their kids in school as well.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/12/obama-biden-bush-era-tax-cuts.html
Or what about this Obama statement on the Stimulus Bill.
"What's required for the economy right now [is] to put more money into the pockets of ordinary Americans who are more insecure about their jobs, who are continuing to see rising costs in an area like health care, who are struggling to make ends meet," he said Monday.
http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/05/news/economy/obama_stimulus/index.htm
Now what about Tax Cuts not increasing the revenue?
Here is a link for you to see the INCREASE IN REVENUE after the 2003 Bush Tax Cuts.
You'll need Excel to see the data.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals
You will also notice the INCREASE IN REVENUE after the OBAMA Tax Cuts in the Stimulus Bill.
Things have changed since last year, hasn't it? Occupy Wall Street has changed the dialogue and they aren't too happy about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NzHHQASizE
At CPAC Democrats were called stupid (one of the nicest things). They are starting to lose it and I couldn't be happier.
The right wing nuts love to keep blaming the deficit on president Obama's policies. Well, I love to keep reminding them that it's the gwbush/cheney admin that created this deficit and their ever-lasting negative effect on the economy with their 2 crazy wars and tax cuts and subsidiies for their rich buddies. Obviously these GOP/TP nuts are all too happy to prolong this negative effect on keeping our economy down and deficit up in order to benefit their filthy rich 1% and make president Obama look bad. They absolutely don't care what effects this has on the american people. Funny thing is that how could any middle class republicans support such self destructive ideology? Why are they this crazy?
Well, Where have most of the tax payers' money gone in the gwbush/cheney years? - to profit their war mongering right wing buddies and they want to keep doing it to no end. Their very goal is to polarize this country so they can make this country into a monarchy like in the medieval times with the very wealthy ruling over the rest. Just look at everything the GOP politicians and governors have been doing to their own states. Everything they've done so far is to suppress the rights of the different groups of people other than the far right. Funny that they keep falsely attacking the Obama admin quoting their own version of the constitutions while they keep breaking them themselves. I flinch every time they said they love this great country or they're patriots. What a bunch of shameless clowns! I couldn't wait for the day these far right nuts all pack up and leave this country and let president Obama rebuild this country from the sham that they had put it into. Just let president Obama and his admin save this country and its middle class in peace.
In all fairness. While I agree with a lot of what you are saying. Obama has increased the deficit as he is trying to buy our way out of hard economic times. The best solution for any economic downturn is for the government to start spending more to increase demand and stimulate the economy.
Did Obama create the problem. Definitely not. Is he adding to the deficit. Most certainly.
This is a prolonged economic recession that is causing the deficit to soar. But if the government cut spending it would come back to hurt the individual even more.
Sure, the deficit has gotten worse in these past 3 years. But what really cause the deepening of the deficit? Continued big tax cuts for the rich, continued subsidies for oil industries and big corporations, continued squandering of tax payers' money on both sides, etc. However, one thing is very clear, the Obama admin spend money on behalf of the middle class and the poor while the far right harvest tax payers' money to enrich the already very rich only. One thing that the far right will never give president Obama credit for is that he really has a better sense of economy than any far right nuts. He knows only money can make money. Economy is motored by the constant flux of money being exchanged. You can not grow the economy without sufficient spending. The gwbush/cheney admin pushed the middle class to the brink of bankrutcy. Hardly anyone has enough to survive other than the rich. How can economy grow when 99% of the population don't have enough spending power? The far right can twist anything and say whatever garbage they want. But the fact reminds the fact. President Obama's stimulus plans have worked albeit with so much sh*t and resistance from the far right. And it will continue to work as long as there are enough sensible citizens and politicans supporting him. He's the only hope for the survival of this country in this political atmosphere. All these GOP/TP clowns trying to take over the current government have only one thing in mind - to destroy democracy so the rich can rule this country as the medieval lordships. I've always find it very funny why they call themselves "conservatives". Just what exactly do they conserve? The environment, natural resources, harmony, Christ's love for all mankind? - none of the above! It's very clear to me that the only thing they try to conserve is SLAVERY!
@Iowa, with all due respect that is WAY too general of a statement. We have reached a critical stage in our economic woes. If we don't show our creditors (ie China) that we can reign in the SPENDING...we will be forced to make DRASTIC cuts. Interest rates will shoot through the roof and the coming decade will make the last 4 years look like a trip to Disneyland. The only thing keeping our country going is LOW INTEREST RATES on all that debt we keep adding to.
Obama needs to make the hard choices of spending cuts NOW before we are FORCED to.
anIndepenent-########
Bush/Cheney haven't been in Office since Jan 2009. It is now Feb. 2012. So ALL DEFICITS and ALL INCREASE IN DEBT since Mar. 2009 Belong to Obama and the Democrats/Progressives. Why Mar. 2009?? That is when the LAST Continuing Resolution that Bush signed ended. Why Continuing Resolutions? THERE WAS NO BUDGET FOR FY2009!!!
slodon, you're a perfect example of the the GOP/TP irresponsibility. gwbush and cheney don't have to remain in office for any further destruction by the GOP. Their legacy of destruction of this country lingers on with your party's politicians keep trying to block president Obama's efforts and keep demanding the extension of gwbush/cheney's tax cuts for the rich and subsidies for the oil industry and big corporations. I only hope that you don't believe in your party's claim that keep cutting tax for the rich 1% will create jobs. If it does, there wouldn't be any deficit or job loss during the gwbush/cheney era. Why do you think it's right that 99% of the americans should be at the mercy of the rich 1%, hoping the rich will offer them a low paying job only when the rich feel like it? If you're among the 99%, I'm sorry to say you're absolutely crazy! Furthermore, the rich would secretly thank president Obama for his stimulus moves. Even the rich couldn't survive without customers. It's president Obama's stimulus plans that keeps the spending power of the average americans who spend the money buying the products and services of the filthy rich. Very few of them will remain rich without the 99% americans.
I don't want to be demeaning, but only far right nuts like you will never be able to see the truth. And it's really a waste of time trying to reason with people like you. If you're not the so-called far right "elite", I just hope that you'll wake up soon enough to see what your crazy ideology of partisanship is doing to you and your beloved. I hope one day you'll realize that you're a victim of your own ideology. On second note, I hope you'll never have a chance realize it, for if that happens, you've already drag all other innocent americans down to the dump with you.
And you call yourself Independent, HA. You're a LIBERAL buddy. Hate to be the one telling you but just reading your posts and seeing your handle is a joke in itself.
anIndependent ######
I got news for you I WAS A REGISTERED DEMOCRAT for 45+ YEARS. Hell I even voted for Carter,McCarthy and Obama!! I changed to Independent myself in 2010. I hated what the Progressives did to the Democrat Party!
Slodon is right on target...AND another objective person saying NO TO OBAMA 2012.
Are all of you so blind? Look at Greece with their austerity program? - it is anarchy - they should have went back to their drachma - got out of the Euro community -- the banks were willing to negotiate with them and slowly change their system - instead what has the euro given them? Nothing.
the one track mind of the right are simply mind-boggling. An independent doesn't mean he/she always remain in the center. An independent should go where the reason lies. After all, this country has only 2 major party. There're hardly any representatives for independents. As a sensible independent, I must go with the party that makes sense. I voted for governor chris christy, a republican because he made a bit more sense than the democrats in nj. However, none of the GOP/TP politicians make sense compare to president Obama. Yes, I'm definitely an independent because unlike the self-proclaimed fake democrats and the far rights, I have independent thinking.
@independent. I hear you. Keep in mind when you start off with an insult (to me since I'm right wing) by calling me nuts; you're asking for it.
Secondly....glad to hear your a Gov Christy supporter...or at least voted for him. You do know his views and opinions on Obama, right?
If you had told me that I would be labeled a right winger 10+ years ago I would have thought no way. The real reason I'm a right wing guy now is that the Dem party has STRETCHED the political spectrum so far to the left. I haven't voted Dem in 10 years simply b/c the party has been HIJACKED by so called "progressives" like Reid and Pelosi, and recently by Obama.
Cheers!
I always hear proposals to cut the gov't workers pay and have them contribute more. If that is a solution that they find acceptable then I think, as an act of good will and compassion, that Congress should agree to cut their pay and benefits along with the other gov't employees. I also think that when they change Medicare then they should be obligated to participate it the program in lieu of thier Federal BCBS plan that they get paid for after they hit age 65 too.
I've always felt that if we forced our politicians to use Medicare that we would see major changes in a hurry. They are currently shielded by knowing that they don't have to suffer under the health care coverage that they push off on others.
Instead we pay a ridiculous amount of money for our politicians to have A+ health care while they wring grandpa and grandma dry for sub-par coverage.
@Iowa-Guy. I LOVE your thinking here as it is right on target. Now...are you ready to say the same re Obamacare considering Obama granted thousands of exemptions to unions/companies/& both senate & congress.
When politicians make laws that they themselves are NOT REQUIRED to abide by it will always spell trouble.
""We are willing to work with them to offset it in a responsible way," White House press secretary Jay Carney said"
Well, you will have to find some "responsible" repukes to work with then.
Good luck with that, there ain't none to be found. Grover Norquist killed them all.
I keep hearing about the poor doctors who can't afford a reduction in their Medicare reimbursement rates. Really? I keep hearing about doctors who will have to shut down their practice and go on the unemployment line if they don't get to keep charging Medicare excessive amounts for the services they provide. Really? I keep hearing about doctors who will no longer accept Medicare patients if their reimbursement rates are reduced. Really? The last doctor I ran across driving anything other than a Mercedes, BMW, etc. and living in a 5,000 square foot house on the good side of the tracks was my pediatrician who made house calls, and that was a long long time ago. Hows about the AMA give us a list of the doctors who are impoverished or will be ruined by this reimbursement reduction, so we can check out how they are living and what they are driving for ourselves.
Doctors are a key subset of the 1 percenters, and they need a haircut just as bad as the rest of those thieves, if not more so. Unless I'm mistaken doctors have to be licensed by any State they wish to practice in. So, its really very simple. Doctors serve Medicare clients or they get their license revoked. We have all these crap laws that put the thumb on the average Joe. its about time we turn the screws on these greed merchants and call their bluff. And if nothing is done about any of this, all those poor struggling doctors the AMA wants us to believe exist should be more than happy to get some cash by serving Medicare clients at a reasonable rate, so whats the problem here. Reduce the reimbursement rates now. After all, isn't cost reductions what our conservative friends want, unless of course its one of their kind being affected.
Lastly, doctors deserve to make a very good living given the effort they have to put into getting their degree and the limits on their personal life some of them have to endure. But, just like the CEO's and other corporate big shots hauling in 100's of times more than their average employee, the party is about to end for those guys as well as all greedy doctors.
The Dimwitcrats spent 4 trillion in three years, keep saying no , I love this @!$%#. Leave it to a black man to want everything and NOT work for it.LOL
Ignorant and racist. Way to go.
@pony05....
You sir are an a*s! Not only are you NOT funny, your veiled attempt in the art of sarcasm was a big EPIC FAIL!! It is one thing to disagree with our President and even another to not like him (of which you are entitled to do both); however, your disrespect for the OFFICE of the President and whomever holds that position is disgraceful, un-American, and mean-spirited. With that being said, I hope the Newsvine monitors ban your ignorant, hill-billy *ss for life.
Good day and please change your sheet, or at least purchase enough so that you have a decent, white, clean one for every day of the week, you MORON.
pony05, you are suspended for a week for violating rule # 5 of the Code of Honor.
Don't make racist comments, please.
anInde- Great post!
Ma chere does dem $100,000 salries need a $20.00 per week raise? Not enough to go protest in the front of the White house.
WOW! Congress waiting until the 11th hour to get any kind of work done? Tell me something new for a change! PLEASE!
You can not be a true fiscal conservative and favor the continuation of this tax cut. A true fiscal conservative is against debt, not just spending. Reducing spending does no good if you also reduce your revenues. The problem we have had in this country is that both parties have been getting their way for too long. Increased spending on social programs, coupled with reduced revenues from successive tax cuts are quickly bankrupting this country. The amazing thing is this - The President is asking for a 3.8 trillion budget. 1.3 billion of that is debt. 30 cents of every dollar in that budget is to pay the interest on our existing debt, or 1.2 trillion. If we had no debt, we would be within 100 billion dollars of balancing the federal budget.
Our debt is killing us, so to solve the problem, our leaders are accumulating more debt!
You can't spend more than you bring in. In any budget that means looking at all your expenses and start slashing away. The easiest targets are always the biggest expenses (SS and Medicare). Much like a house budget, one might think your mortgage or rent and car payments are your highest costs. So it might mean having to downsize your house and turn in your newer car for an older car. Both things are hard to do, but HAVE to happen to balance your budget.
No one wants to talk about revamping SS or Medicare because at some point a generation will not get what a previous generation got. It's also positioned as "conservatives hate old people and poor people". I guess my older children could have said I hated them because I had to move into a smaller house when they were in their teen aged years.
We have both Dems and Republicans to thank for our situation. Neither party is being honest with the people or themselves. Neither party is responsible. But, I'd rather vote for the party that at the very least is recognizing that we can't spend more than we take in. Also, upping taxes on the rich will not solve the problem, it's a mathematical impossibility.
Proud Hispanic- comparing a government to a personal or business budget is way off the mark. By your logic WWII should have ended in 1942 when we ran out of money.
My goodness those of us on the East coast would be speaking German and the west coast Japanese.
@proud hispanic. RIGHT ON TARGET my friend and well said. Just ask my old friend Gray Davis, former gov of Cali. After the dot.com bubble burst there was an immediate DROP in state revenues. What did he do? Kept spending. IT DOESN'T work. Lost his job b/c of it and Cali continues to dig out from that mess.
THE GOP has to stop insulting the intelligence of the American people with this new belly ache about how the unemployment insurance payments will be paid. Have they consider the fact, that 92% of Americans are holding down a job every week. We are also paying into a unemployment fund; that we will not see any of, because we're still working.
A lot of workers go from job to job without receiving any payments during their working years, because they're are not out of work long enough to receive the benefits; in the way, of monetary payments.We cross over to higher paying positions, or better paying jobs. EX: A worker's company has put in at least $50,000 on the worker's behalf into the fund; the worker gets laid off for six months, to a year; they never see all of that $50,000.
The fund is being supported by those of us who are still working, and the balance of that money is still in the fund. Now unless the States collecting the money, is doing something with the money; ( BORROWING FROM THE FUND), it should be more than enough, to pay out to those, who have a need, to be receiving these benefits.
Great point. Thank you.
I hope and pray ALL you liberals have a mortgage thru Fannie or Freddie. Then when you get your first mortgage bill in the mail after this is passed, you might understand.
But then, I am not going to cry about it because my mortgage is from my local bank and it will not effect me except I will get the tax cut but will not have to pay it back while those of you that have your mortgage with fannie or freddie will and you will have to pay this back at 1% added to your mortgage for the life of the mortgage. DO YOU HAVE A 20 OR 30 YEAR MORTGAGE?
So I say bring it on liberals, I could use the extra $ in my pay check right now knowing I don't have to pay it back.
son
The Progressive Math is just wonderful. You get 25 per week now but pay 15 per month extra on your mortgage for the next 30 years. So lets see here $200 NOW vs. $5400 after 30 years. YEP LOOKS GOOD TO THEM. BTW. That .5% FEE is in effect for 10 YEARS!! So if you buy a house 5 years from now you will still pay that fee for the $200 you got in the last 2 months. That's the Progressive Math at work. get a little now and PAY A LOT LATTER!!
I know.
I'm laughing. . .
I'm laughing some more. . .
Wait. . . .
I'm still laughing. . .
slodon, I just had a thought. Even if Obama gets a second term, some of these liberals will still remember him a few decodes from now has the president that gave them a higher mortgage payment for 30 years
We can only hope people will get off their duff's and go to the polls and vote. It is priviledge and a right. Since I don't like what the Repub's are doing, I am going to vote and send them a strong message. The people drawing unemployment deserve a break.
I like the way our SS is listed as an entitlement, well the so called congress their salary to me is an entitlement, for not doing their job. The SS benefits when this started by Roosevelt, was listed in the FDIC, no one could touch the funds, but guess what the greedy in congress removed it from the fdic in 1963, and it has continued through the years. I guess Congress does not realize that we as americans are not stupid, we are not sheep even though they think we are.
Lets take their paychecks, their entitlement of retirement and their wifes retirement she gets another half of what he draws, lets take it all and put it back into ss. and put it back where it belongs. Entitlement my foot.
I'm sorry but that is exactly what Obama and the democraps thing you are. Why do you think they call you the sheeple?
I beleive they deserve a job
LadyJag,
Typical Far Lefter. First you try to tell me what to eat, then what kind of health insurance to have, what kind of car to drive, what kind of fuel to put in my car, what news and commentary to listen to, on tv, and now you are trying to tell me who to vote for. Why don't you just stay in your little Far Left world and leave me the hell alone. You're like pesty little gnats, you just won't go away.
Lady
SS is an ENTITLEMENT because you paid into it and are ENTITLED to the benefits. See how that works?
Typical...blame Congress b/c they don't fall in line with Obama. Thank God our founding fathers had the foresight to put "checks & balances" in place.
Why not just make them subscribe to Obamacare? Oh yeah....Obama's healthcare plan is so wonderful he granted congress/senate (along with more then 1000 unions/corporations an exemption.
With this artical below, you know the liberals are getting scared.
Sonmanvb,
Typical Far Left philosophy. Let's make our business, everyone's business. Media Matters, to society, is comparable to crap on a lawn.
What else would you expect from the partisan hacks that support Obama under the guise of being "journalists"? These are the types of people Obama likes to coordinate and associate with. Unfortunately for him and them, Obama's words compared to his actions/inactions and his divisive practices are what are going to be the downfall of Mr. Obama and outfits like Media matters and MSNBC. Not anything on Fox. Isn't is sad that a guy running to retain his presidency has to resort to relying upon such tactics in order to keep people voting for him? Could his politics be any more divisive?
He has to. His record is even worse the Carters.
Chicago politics at their finest hour.
Might be, but he's still leading EACH AND EVERY Republican candidate in the polls! That must be driving you guys crazy!! OBAMA 2012
More like WORRIES ME TO DEATH.
Thats the difference...you seem like you're rooting for your favorite football team. I want what's best for my country. You don't seem very objective.
AP FACT CHECK: Obama enlists some familiar phantoms to make the numbers add up in his new budget
WASHINGTON (AP) — When a president introduces a budget, there are always phantoms flitting around the room. President Barack Obama's spending plan sets loose a number of them.
It counts on phantom savings from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's underpinned by tax increases Republicans won't let happen and program cuts fellow Democrats in Congress are all but certain to block.
And it assumes rates of growth that the economy will have to become strikingly undead to achieve.
A look at three budget ghosts, sometimes known as gimmicks:
___
1) BUDGET: Claims about $850 billion in savings from ending the wars and steers some $230 billion of that to highways.
REALITY: There is no direct peace dividend from ending the wars because the government borrowed to pay for them. The government would have to keep borrowing that amount of money to have it to spend on something else.
2) BUDGET: Forecasts healthy growth in years ahead, with GDP growth predicted to reach a robust 4 percent in 2014 and 4.2 percent in 2015.
REALITY: It's obviously too soon to know, but reputable private forecasts are not nearly as rosy as the administration's assumptions, and their track record tends to be better. They are generally forecasting a percentage point lower or close to that, a huge difference, and don't see reaching 4 percent growth in the foreseeable future.
3) BUDGET: Assumes taxes will go up on the rich, tax breaks will end for the oil and gas industry, and spending will be cut for programs the president is willing to sacrifice.
REALITY: Tax increases are a non-starter before the election, with Republicans standing in the way, so sweeping parts of Obama's budget plan are little more than a campaign platform laying out what he would try to get done if re-elected.
I always wondered how not paying for a war for one year saves money for 10 years. That's like saying we saved a Hundred Trillion Dollars because we haven't paid for WWII for 67 years!
How about the biggest phantom of all time? Obama care will lower health care costs and taxes. ....and speaking of which, has anyone noticed that the major Networks and News Media have not mentioned the 3.5% sales tax that will be sneakily tacked on when you go to sell your home? For many, a home sale is a route to retirement. If your home sells for $300,000, that's $10,500 to Obama and his Obamacrap health care. My health insurance went up 29%, over the last two years. Are Obama's projections phantom numbers, or lies?
slodon, wow, it is good to see you admit what a catastrphie the funding of the Bush oil war was/is.
Yup. Now wireman, you ready to admit Obama's made things 100 times worse? I mean Obama's campaign ran on the idea of reducing our spending and borrowing from china. Just another broken Obama promise.
@Dave, love your point re Obamacare. Its gonna be so effective at lowering healthcare costs that he has GRANTED more then 1000 EXEMPTIONS to it...including the Beltway Gang in DC.
Obamacare is such fools gold.
Payroll tax cut paid for with additional fees for Freddie and Fannie mortgages
The 2 percentage point cut in Social Security taxes paid by employees (from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent). The extension is paid for by charging an additional 0.1 percent in fees for banks that issue mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac for 10 years.
On a $200,000 house, the new fees would cost the average homebuyer $17 a month, or more than $6,000 over the course of a 30-year loan, according to Congressional estimates. (Borrowers that take out larger loans would pay more.) It will also apply to refinanced mortgages.
I love fuzzy liberal math
Further stifling the recovery of the housing market while at the same time continuing to make it so those that can hardly afford it are given a mortgage on a new home they will default on in 6 months.
The House GOP/Tea Party members are a bunch of losers. They always seem to show their true colors. There is no sound reason not to extend unemployment insurance and payments to medicare doctors. Hopefully their selfish libertarian ideology will do many of them in during the 2012 elections. That is why they have a 10% favorable rating. Many people now see this group of conservatives without consciences for who they really are. The economy is improving and they cannot admit it. They have not passed any real jobs bills. John Boehner and Eric Cantor are really bad party leaders aside from being millionaires who do not want to pay their fair share.
The GOP leadership needs to go. They have no back bone to stand up to Obama and these dumocraps. We need leaders that will call them on thier un-constitutional behavior and start impeachment processes for all of them. Obama,Holder,Sebelius,chu and the rest
I can give you one sound reason to end Unemployment for the 99'ers.
There are JOBS out there right now,all they have to do is get off their collective butts and apply! Remember Obama has said that he has created Millions of Jobs in the last 3 years. Hell they can go to N. Dakota and find a job in hours!! My neighbor did that a few months ago. Left his wife and kids and his UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK,got a job within 5 hours and SAVED HIS HOUSE!
djj,
Since when is it a crime to be a millionaire? Is it because you're not? You Far Left doorknobs have dopey talking points that make little, if any, sense. I'm curious, do you ever read what you post? Try it.
We Far Left doorknobs have no problems with millionaires. We do have a problem when those same millionaires "earned" their money by stealing from others. But, I know, you're going to say we are just being envious and jealous. I just wished I didn't have to scan through posts like yours. WTF??!!
How many people can afford to pick up and move to N. Dakota? Does N. Dakota have 20 million jobs available? In my 30 years in the work force, I have only been unemployed once (during the Reagan recession). I can tell you that it is NOT fun and in no way does unemployment insurance substitute for a job.
Therman,
So should the tax payers pay for the move too?
Most people have been between jobs at least once in their lives. .....and guess what, if they wanted a job bad enough, they found a job. Now that we have this Socialist President doling out entitlements like penny candy, it's easier to stay home and become dependent on this Far Left government. They like it because it gets votes. I once mowed lawns for two months, between jobs. I wasn't proud of it, but it paid the bills until I found a better job. ...and I didn't apply for unemployment. I left that for the people that really needed it. This Country is becoming like Greece. Everyone thinks everyone else owes them something.
slodon I know how you Repubs hate unemployment insurance (until you need it), but understand, it does not cover the bills. It is an emergency fund that helps but is not enough to live on without savings. You still have to have your own emergency fund to get through any stretch of job loss. Also understand that not everyone is qualified to become employed in North Dakota. I am. And I will go work with your neighbor if I have to.
Dave D You did not apply for unemployment benefits because you were not covered by your previous employer. If you were covered, you would have collected benefits. It is an insurance policy. If somebody wrecked your car or your house burned down, would you refuse payment from the insurance company? NOT A CHANCE!
wireman and Thermen
Why do you think my neighbor left his family and went to N. Dakota??
Did you not see SAVED HIS HOUSE??? Did you not see he left his family?? HE WENT, NOT HIS FAMILY.
slodon, Can't say I understand why you got yer undies in a bunch over this. Traveling to an area where you can get work is nothing new to me or several hundred men and women I know personally. It is more common than not to leave the family at a home base. All we can do is travel for a while hoping that work comes back to our home areas. When it does, we go work at home. This is how we save our houses. Happy to help educate you.
Media Matters web site describes them as:
The IRS at http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html describes a 501(c)(3) as:
Looks to me like they are them selfs breaking the law. Time to investigate.
The same goes for the Catholic church and all of those idiotic organizations like "the American Family Association".
What does the law say about Citizens United? But that doesn't influence campaign activity for or against political candidates, or does it? HAH I'd think that ruling would be breaking the law, but how the hell could we investigate that decision? Keep googling. Maybe you'll come up with something someone really gives a sh$$ about.
Not really. The churches mostly stays out of politics unless some dumda&& liberal brings them into it like obama just did. They have a right to stand up for thier second amendment rights where MMA does not have the right to get tax payor money and then use that money against political candidates. It is against the LAW, merman
oldlady, can you prove Citizens United is funding against political candidates? If so, then the same would apply. But I can't seem to find any thing out them except from you.
Sonmanvb,
this liberal dumda&& thinks you should concentrate on things you think you know something about, like birth control, abortion, gay marriage, etc. and leave the real problems like JOBS, JOBS, JOBS to people trying to solve that problem. All of a sudden everyboby is a Constitutional expert. It's become some kind of buzz word.