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Cantor Suggests Raising Taxes On The Poor: ‘You’ve Got To Discuss That Issue’
By Travis Waldron on Apr 19, 2012 at 11:50 am
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) revived one of the GOP’s favorite talking points this morning, telling attendees at a Politico-sponsored breakfast event that it was imperative that Congress address the “problem” that “more than 45 percent” of Americans aren’t paying income taxes.
The GOP has repeatedly made the claim that the poorest Americans need more “skin in the game.” Today, response to a question by ABC’s Jon Karl, Cantor made it clear that Republicans are interested in raising taxes on the poor while lowering tax rates for everyone else as part of any comprehensive tax reform plan:
CANTOR: We also know that over 45 percent of the people in this country don’t pay income taxes at all, and we have to question whether that’s fair. And should we broaden the base in a way that we can lower the rates for everybody that pays taxes. [...]
KARL: Just wondering, what do you do about that? Are you saying we need to have a tax increase on the 45 percent who right now pay no federal income tax?
CANTOR: I’m saying that, just in a macro way of looking at it, you’ve got to discuss that issue. … How do you deal with a shrinking pie and number of people and entities that support the operations of government, and how do you go about continuing to milk them more, if that’s what some want to do, but preserve their ability to provide the growth engine? … I’ve never believed that you go raise taxes on those that have been successful that are paying in, taking away from them, so that you just hand out and give to someone else. ThinkProgress has repeatedly explained why many Americans don’t pay income taxes — most either don’t make enough money or are college students or seniors with no yearly incomes. And those Americans are subject to various other forms of taxation, including the federal payroll tax.
The richest Americans, meanwhile, have seen their tax rates fall even as their incomes skyrocketed, contributing to rising inequality and exploding federal deficits. As Cantor made plain today, though, none of that matters. In addition to making the poor and middle class shoulder the burden of draconian budget cuts, Republicans want to raise their taxes too.
-------------------- Wise men learn more from fools than fools from the wise. Posts: 3827 | From: beautiful California | Registered: Sep 2008
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If Obama was as pushy about closing the tax loopholes at the top, I would give him more credit. His focus is more on raising taxes directly and indirectly, but cant stand up to those who dodge the system.
If he would be vocal about pushing the Senate to pass a budget which it has failed to do in how many years again under Senator Reid? What about Obama friendly GE who defers taxes to not pay any U.S. tax?
What about the NEA? Spending millions on liberal candidates, and failing to pay taxes year after year. Tom Daschel, Charles Rangle, Timothy Geithner, John Kerry, etc. You know, the Democrats who back Obama and tell everyone to pay their fair share or increase tax rates yet dodging them.
I think the government should get their spending under control, and their loopholes and tax cheats called out before they start pounding the tax drums. A lot of you keep backing higher taxes all over the place, and think that somehow if the pig is fed more and more, it will become slimmer. What is the point of demonizing the rich, tax them, only to have that extra money blown on pork and waste?
-------------------- It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant. It's just that they know so many things that aren't so. Posts: 6949 | Registered: Apr 2004
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but cant stand up to those who dodge the system.
not with another term to win he can't...
Bill Clinotn went from claiming to be broke and woth no house to 100 million in th ebank in less than ten years after leaving the WH...
Bill had one duaghter to look after. Obama has two and i think he's younger than Bill was...
reasonable people only want as much change as possible, cash, would i have done the same things Obama did? nope, but i ain't willing to give up my Freedom to b a public servant and i am too blunt to be a poltiican anyway
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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and i am too blunt to be a poltiican anyway ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
