July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Tax cuts and political bullying (5/16/03)
Editorials
To judge from President Bush’s rhetoric, you’d think that his tax cut proposal was being held up by Saddam Hussein. Or at the very least by al Qaeda.
Prior to the passage of a $350 billion tax relief bill Thursday night by the U.S. Senate, you could easily come to the conclusion that anyone who differed with the president on the size of a potential tax cut is un-American.
But this time around, the president’s key opponents were Republicans.
And, far from being un-American, they were taking significant political risk to do what they believe is in the best interest of the country.
Overheated rhetoric aside, the scale of the Bush tax cut was being debated in the Senate primarily within the president’s own party and largely among folks who share a political philosophy.
Democrats in the House have been pretty much marginalized, and some of those in the Senate are finding themselves in alliance with Republicans who believe the president’s proposal is far too costly and carries serious risks. Indiana’s Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh jumped over to side with the president.
The real discussion has been within the GOP, and it boiled down to how big the tax cut should be and how it should be structured.
The Senate says $350 billion, while the House and the White House are pushing for $550 billion.
The latest tactic from the White House has been to link the tax cut to job creation, but many analysts find that connection dubious.
The Economist noted recently, for instance, that even if the president’s estimates of job creation turn out to be correct, they will come at a cost of about $550,000 in lost federal revenue per job based on the $550 billion proposal.
That’s not a particularly convincing case.
And while rallies and road trips fire up the party faithful, they don’t go very far in furthering the intra-party debate over which course of action is best for the country. At their best, they’re a political sideshow. At their worst, they’re a form of political bullying. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
Prior to the passage of a $350 billion tax relief bill Thursday night by the U.S. Senate, you could easily come to the conclusion that anyone who differed with the president on the size of a potential tax cut is un-American.
But this time around, the president’s key opponents were Republicans.
And, far from being un-American, they were taking significant political risk to do what they believe is in the best interest of the country.
Overheated rhetoric aside, the scale of the Bush tax cut was being debated in the Senate primarily within the president’s own party and largely among folks who share a political philosophy.
Democrats in the House have been pretty much marginalized, and some of those in the Senate are finding themselves in alliance with Republicans who believe the president’s proposal is far too costly and carries serious risks. Indiana’s Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh jumped over to side with the president.
The real discussion has been within the GOP, and it boiled down to how big the tax cut should be and how it should be structured.
The Senate says $350 billion, while the House and the White House are pushing for $550 billion.
The latest tactic from the White House has been to link the tax cut to job creation, but many analysts find that connection dubious.
The Economist noted recently, for instance, that even if the president’s estimates of job creation turn out to be correct, they will come at a cost of about $550,000 in lost federal revenue per job based on the $550 billion proposal.
That’s not a particularly convincing case.
And while rallies and road trips fire up the party faithful, they don’t go very far in furthering the intra-party debate over which course of action is best for the country. At their best, they’re a political sideshow. At their worst, they’re a form of political bullying. — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]
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