Tax Cuts For The Poor Becoming Political Liability For Obama

September 3, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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The president wants to extend two tax credits for lower-income families that were supposed to be temporary products of his stimulus. Normally tax cuts for the poor would be the perfect bipartisan policy. But as further evidence that, contra Dick Cheney, deficits do matter politically, Obama's move is getting bipartisan criticism. The Post reports:

Deficit hawks are appalled. Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, called the move "outrageous" at a time when the nation is facing record budget deficits and the national debt is soaring toward a 50-year high. In addition to breaking Obama's pledge to pay for his policies, she said, it undermines confidence in Democrats' claim that the $787 billion stimulus package was truly a temporary measure aimed solely at reviving the slumping economy.

My thoughts:

Obama might not be breaking his pledge about deficit spending, exactly.  He might just be extending a popular program in order to placate voters and ease the pain when the big tax increases—like a new VAT—do come along.

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kid of ny:

I'm surprised you have a job that pays more than minimum wage with your inability to spell or properly construct a sentence!

And you are totally off here. You obviously are having trouble grasping reality, if you really believe what you are saying. Next time, think before you type...moron!

Eric of NY 9:10AM August 08, 2010

I am not sure what type of capitalsocialism ideas our government is comming up with. I know the government is targeting the uneducated low income parents to pull thier programs through.There are a large population in the U.S that feel they are entitled to all the programs they have been taught in low income areas to get all the care,food,shelter they need. Many of the area churches hold classes for thease specific purposes.Our focusshould be to find those classes and stop them. I have friends that don't fit minatory status and need welfare and they are constantly redoing dehap paperwork that they have lost. The information thease government entities have acess to and are losing are serious issues.Identity theft is runnimg rampet thease days. Are thease agencies secure. My white female friend has been fighting cross racesim since encountering hurricane IKE. A single divourced mother of two living on child support and odd jobs while trying to get a degree in college.If she plays her cards right she might be able to get an appointment for food stamps. They told her it would take 3 monts to get an appointment. She is still waiting. Itry to keep her encouraged but I think her skin color is keeping her from gettingher share of help. She is getting a degree in enviromental research. She claims she willget a peace prize with her vision. She needs a short term entitlement program. Thease are the peopleI like to see taking from the system. She want to give back to the planet.I think welfare recipents need to state what and why they need assiatance for and have a plan to pay back the system by moving closer to the capitalist work ethics leaving behind obamism.

Jennifer Hall of TX 2:08AM September 07, 2009

er,no muser.

we have deficits because of too much spending, not because of a lack of revenue.

for example, federal tax revenue increased by more than $1 trillion (adjusted for inflation) in the 10-year period following reagan's tax cuts.

but congress can always spend more than the government brings in -- which is what inevitably happens.

interesting mindset, though: letting people keep their own money, the money they work to earn, is a government "giveaway."

the only thing the government has to "give" is something they forcibly take from someone else.

bobdylan of VA 3:10PM September 05, 2009

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