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Deadlock over spending and taxes in U.S. Congress
Congress has been brought to a grinding halt by hardening Democratic and Republican stances on taxes and spending just days before lawmakers begin leaving Washington for Christmas and New Years. The two sides are, in some cases, refusing even to speak to each other about the massive omnibus and an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) bill.Senate Republicans refused to meet Democrats Tuesday on spending and House Democrats rejected the Senates AMT patch, preparing a new version paid for with corporate tax increases. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) countered the majoritys plans with a proposal that would require Democrats to accept virtually all of President Bushs demands on spending. McConnell demanded that Democrats also provide $70 billion for the war with no strings attached. Frustration boiled over in the Senate, where Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Bush is impossible and has been for seven years to deal with. Reid sought to portray senior White House adviser Ed Gillespie as an incarnation of Karl Rove and a mastermind of intransigence. The majority leader disdained McConnells proposal, noting that an earlier Republican effort to increase war funding without restrictions failed to pass. Reid was not ready to accept an across-the-board funding cut to pare the omnibus to Bushs ceiling. Senate Republicans rejected in advance a proposal from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) to raise taxes to pay the $50 billion cost of the AMT patch. Rangel sought a higher tax rate on offshore deferred compensation. The Senate rejected a Rangel plan this year that paid for the patch by raising taxes on private equity and hedge funds. When asked if Senate Republicans could accept AMT relief accompanied by tax increases, Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), the Republican whip-elect, replied simply: No. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said there was zero chance of the Senate passing an AMT bill that included tax increases. Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.), a Democratic member of the Finance Committee, said it would be difficult to pass a package with tax increases. The patch would temporarily protect 23 million American taxpayers from becoming subject to the AMT. House Democrats are firm in demanding new taxes to pay for the $50 billion cost of AMT relief. Two leading liberal lawmakers circulated a letter among colleagues seeking to pressure Democratic leaders. As progressive members of the Democratic Caucus, we wish to make clear our concern with any AMT patch that does not adhere to the House PAYGO rules, wrote Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a member of Ways and Means, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.). We believe House Democrats must remain united on this principle. Mobilization by liberals reinforces a coalition of House Democrats from across the political spectrum pressing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to stand firm. More than 30 conservative Blue Dog Democrats signed a letter to Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) urging them to pay for tax relief. Under no circumstance will we vote for any piece of legislation that does not meet the requirements of PAYGO, nor will we vote to waive the PAYGO rules to allow for such legislation, they wrote, referring to budget rules that require the cost of bills be offset with tax increases or spending cuts. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the New Democrat Coalition, also demands an AMT bill that conforms with budget rules. I want AMT paid for. I think the entire Democratic Caucus wants the AMT paid for. I am very resolved to that. Im very mindful of the number of constituents damaged if we dont get this fixed [people] also want [tax relief] paid for because they are deeply concerned about the way the Republicans ran the Congress. Federal debt has soared during the Bush presidency. Republicans say deficit spending was needed after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the ensuing recession. Tauscher said Senate Republicans need to recognize that a new party controls Congress, and compromise. I would remind them we took the majority and decided we were not going to run the government as they did, as profligate spenders, she said. They need to be cooperative.
Obey has proposed reducing the cost of the omnibus to Bushs proposal and cutting all lawmakers earmarks to spare a variety of programs from cuts. He hopes rank-and-file Republicans will press their leaders to accept higher domestic spending to save projects slated for their districts, said a Democratic aide. Reid was not embracing that idea when asked about it Tuesday.
Posted by: Delphi 2007-12-12 |
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