Franken, Klobuchar vote for middle-class tax cuts, yet bill dies in Senate
Monday, December 06, 2010 at 8:30 am
- 13 Comments
The U.S. Senate rejected two bills aimed at extending the Bush tax cuts for the middle class on Saturday after Republicans filibustered and Democrats couldn’t get the votes to break it. Minnesota Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were among those voting to end the filibuster and allow a vote on the tax cuts. An extension of the middle class tax cuts now appears dead in Congress.
The Senate considered two bills: one that would extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 and another that would extend those cuts for people making less than $1 million, which was intended to be a compromise with Republicans. The GOP, however, was able to defeat both bill through the use of filibusters.
Franken and Klobuchar both voted to stop debate and vote on the bills.
Franken took to the Senate floor and chastised Republicans for rejecting an unemployment benefits extension because it adds to the deficit but pushing for tax cuts for the wealthy without regard for the deficit.
“Now, frankly, I’m a little tired of being lectured by Republicans on the deficit,” he said. “We all know that Bill Clinton inherited the largest deficit in history from George H. W. Bush and then handed George W. Bush the largest surplus in history. And George W. Bush nearly doubled the national debt. He also handed Barack Obama the largest deficit in history. And, of course, my friends on the other side of the aisle controlled the Congress for most of those Bush years.”
He continued, “So Republicans say that these unemployment benefits are too expensive and will add to the deficit. They demand that these unemployment benefits must be paid for. Tax cuts for the richest people in America? No need to pay for those. Adding $700 billion to the deficit-or actually $830 billion when you factor in extra interest payments? No problem.”
Here are Franken’s full remarks:
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Comment posted December 6, 2010 @ 11:17 am
Thank you Al for reminding Republicans about the deficit. We know they HATE being reminded of these facts and we know they keep trying to pass the buck, but don’t let them do it. Keep bashing it over their heads if necessary. Not that it will do any good. This country has been completely brainwashed on what’s fact and what’s fiction. Sad but true.
Comment posted December 6, 2010 @ 11:36 am
When will you fools remember the events of 911????? When will you realize that attacks have be curtailed to our shores, and at an expense. Government spending, isn’t that the key to full employment in the democrats book. unless you can attempt to use it as propaganda for your own betterment. You are all hypocritical bastards, including the one and only bastard president the smoking messiah the obama.
Comment posted December 6, 2010 @ 1:40 pm
Well Norman I guess if you’re that dumb, I’ll try to sink to your level. DURR DURR Didn’t Saddam Hussein call Osama and They both flew planes on 9/11? That’s why we’re in Iraq! Oh and Barack has the middle name Hussein so does that mean he is a Muslim and is probably related to Saddam and therefore not born in the USA? Durr durr durrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
ERRRRR wat???? none of that is real? Oh well i heard it on faux so it must be TRUUUU???
How to create a budget surplus: spend less than you bring in. Taxing those who bring over 1 million dollars a year (after the first million) seems legit, considering how much less likely they are to spend it.
One thing I never understand: the so called “Trickle Down Economics”……….. It has been this way since bush enacted these tax cuts… so shouldn’t the poor have spent more??? Oh wait they have more money now than ever… Wall Street execs just got a record 44 billion in salaries! Guess that means we should get ready to be trickeled down upon!
Oh wait – no – because the republicans want a tax increase for all, and are making that clear.
Republicans: Don’t call yourselves “Fiscal Conservatives” …. No one believes you any more, which is why I switched parties.
Comment posted December 6, 2010 @ 1:42 pm
Ahhh I meant to say “So shouldn’t the RICH have spent more???”***
But it doesn’t matter, I’m Lurk Derper trying to translate smart talk to dumb talk for norm. even Herp Derp makes mistakes!
Comment posted December 6, 2010 @ 1:45 pm
Take a stress pill and think things over, Norman. What exactly do continuing tax cuts have to do with the WTC attack? Are you suggesting that we have suffered fewer attacks because of the tax cuts or the budget deficit? That makes NO sense. Letting the tax cuts expire would decrease the deficit AND provide more money to react to terrorism. Try make sense, I should say be saner, instead of calling people names. (Note that the US spends more on defense than all other countries combined. We will not be able to do that for much longer.)
The Republicans voted AGAINST a tax decrease BECAUSE it did not include the very richest people who have already made huge gains due to past across the board tax cuts. Clearly, the Republicans care more about the super rich than the middle class.
Comment posted December 6, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
Newt doesn’t want unemployment paid to people for “doing nothing”.
The Republican plan for jobs is – do nothing – just keep taxes for the rich where they are. (It’s worked so well for 8 years, why not?) Can we stop paying Republicans in Congress ? Corporations sit on almost 2 trillion in record profits and hand out big bonuses rather than “create jobs”. Can we stop giving them tax breaks for doing nothing?
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Comment posted December 7, 2010 @ 6:56 am
Everyone has known for days that the Bush tax rates would be extended for all people, and Obama was simply trying to get the republicans to agree to also extend unemployment insurance. Yesterday they all agreed to do that.
So my point regarding Franken was that either he’s stupid, because he wasn’t aware of that agreement between the GOP congressional leaders and his party’s president, or he thinks you’re stupid and won’t recognize his little speech as meaningess political theater.
Comment posted December 7, 2010 @ 8:37 am
If you stand up for your principles as a right wing moron stooge for the rich fuck fascists in this country you’re a patriot, if you do so as Democrat progressive for the middle class and majority in this country you’re stupid, a patsy or a traitor. FU, Dennis.
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