… they just call it a surcharge and it will only be [for now] on the ::::cough:::: RICH ::::cough:::::.
WASHINGTON — An income tax surcharge on highly paid Americans emerged as the leading option Wednesday night as House Democrats sought ways to pay for health care legislation that President Obama favors, several officials said.As discussed in the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, the surtax would apply to individuals with adjusted gross income of more than $200,000 and couples over $250,000, they added.
In addition, key lawmakers are expected to call for a tax or fee equal to a percentage of a worker’s salary on employers who do not offer health benefits.
Can you say “murder small business and the entrepreneurial class”?
YES WE CAN!!
Comment by John Galt on 7/9 @ 7:40 am #
*ahem*
Comment by serr8d on 7/9 @ 7:40 am #
Because Obama is so good with numb3rs…
Comment by Matt on 7/9 @ 7:44 am #
Wait, so if my employer doesn’t offer health benefits to ME, they have to pay the government more money ?
The logic, she is lacking.
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 7:51 am #
Hmmmmmm…Let’s see here…
O! said nobody who made less than 250K/year would get a tax increase…
Well, a surtax on an individual with 200K/ year income sounds like a tax increase on someone below his professed “Rich People” threshold…
And a couple with a combined income of 250K/year is waaaaaay below his “Rich People” threshold…
here’s another view on this http://tiny.cc/2Id7X
Oh well, I guess that particular tax promise has reached it’s expiration date…
Just Words!?!
Folks are already sore about having their mortgage deduction taken away if they’re “Rich People”, now this…
Considering taht many small businesses file as individuals, as “Rich People”, this surtax will sure help “stimulate” the economy; stimulate it to deflate even further…
And it will flat out cost the nation more jobs as a result…
But that seems to be Ogabe’s intent these days; at least as betrayed by his words and deeds…
Comment by Carin on 7/9 @ 7:58 am #
Fucking fire ‘em all. We don’t work for THEM.
Comment by Carin on 7/9 @ 8:01 am #
serr8d’s link:
Mr. Obama has already created a river of red ink. His health-care plans will only force that river over its banks. We are at the cusp of a crucial political debate, and Mr. Obama’s words on fiscal matters are untrustworthy. His promised savings are a mirage. His proposals to reshape the economy are alarming. And his unwillingness to be forthright with his numbers reveals that he knows his plans would terrify many Americans.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 8:06 am #
It is patriotic to pay taxes.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 8:07 am #
We tax people and then give it back to people we like. Patriotism. It is great.
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 8:08 am #
Obama just hit -8 in the Rasmussen poll.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 8:09 am #
Bob,
He needs another crisis to justify more socialistic tax and spend programs. It doesn’t matter how the crisis is started. The media has his back
Comment by Carin on 7/9 @ 8:09 am #
Well, crap. Obama better get back home and take his daughters out for icecream or something.
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 8:10 am #
Not completely, Danger. Not completely.
He’s gone from +28 on inauguration day to -8 today.
The midterms are going to be a slaughter.
Comment by JD on 7/9 @ 8:10 am #
It is telling that the Dems simply cannot be honest about what they want to do, and how they plan on doing it.
Comment by B Moe on 7/9 @ 8:11 am #
Obama lied, the economy died.
Comment by B Moe on 7/9 @ 8:12 am #
Make that “Obama lied, jobs died”.
Much easier to chant.
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 8:13 am #
Obama also said that all legislation would be posted on the web 72 hours before it was voted on.
Now it turns out they’re passing bills that haven’t even been written yet.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 8:16 am #
I am writing down all your names for a patrotic tax increase. thor, send me a memo confirming who is on the list.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 8:19 am #
I promise you this will hurt, but you will feel better for it after it is over. Well maybe not on you feeling better for it, but I will feel better for it.
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:22 am #
I went from “strongly disapprove” to “Obama’s and idiot” in the first 30 days. Does the poll reflect that?
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 8:23 am #
“The midterms are going to be a slaughter.”
SBP,
I’m praying you are right, I just don’t know if the GOP has it’s act together enough to take advantage of the situation.
And if they do make big gains will they learn from their mistakes in the past. But I guess that is where we come in.
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:23 am #
“and” is sometimes used as “an” in Ohio. It gives it more punch.
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 8:24 am #
Danger,
SBP is correct, Obama’s numbrs are beginning to slip fast. And they’ll decline faster when folks realize that he’s released the Quds force members captured last year in an effort to appease the Iranians…
http://tiny.cc/pLSzy
That would be the same Iranian regime that’s gunning down their own people in the street for protesting a sham election…
The same Iranian regime that we shouldn’t meddle with, while we instead will support Chavez’s and Castro’s wishes and meddle in Honduras’ legitimate lawful deposing of a wanna-be dictator…
yep, those numbers are gonna keep on tumblin’, so Obama better make sure he comes up with a real big crisis…
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 8:24 am #
It might be interesting to see a breakdown on that, alp.
I concluded he was an idiot the first time I read one of his speeches in text form.
Without the Magickal Soothing Voice, it’s quite clear that the man (and/or his speechwriters) aren’t exactly in Richard Feynman territory.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 8:25 am #
“I went from “strongly disapprove” to “Obama’s and idiot” in the first 30 days. Does the poll reflect that?”
I think that puts you in the undecided category
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:27 am #
There’s probably a “happyfeet quotient” as well. With a lot of “dirty” and “socialist” and “Soros” in there.
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 8:28 am #
Don’t forget “Hungarian” and “muppet”.
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:29 am #
I think that puts you in the undecided category
You’re probably right. Funny though, I’ve never been asked. If they always poll 1000 people and they never ask me and there’s been a billion polls, they might be skipping me.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 8:30 am #
Bob,
Your link went to a site called Hidden Art; some kind of office furniture store. Have the North Koreans been affecting your internet-fu as well;)
Comment by Silver Whistle on 7/9 @ 8:31 am #
When is the next O! date night? Something that the press can really get their teeth into?
Comment by Salt Lick on 7/9 @ 8:31 am #
“I went from “strongly disapprove” to “Obama’s and idiot” in the first 30 days.”
Me, too. Then in the first 60 days to “featherbrained mooncalf.” First 90, “donkeyass numbskull.” And now “Buckwheat’s Bunghole.”
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:32 am #
Shame how Rasmussen died so suddenly.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 8:32 am #
Did I mention I grew up in Scraton. I ride Amtrak too. And I want you all to be patriotic and pay your fair share (which is a lot more than you are paying now).
Comment by psycho... on 7/9 @ 8:34 am #
There aren’t enough plausibly contestible seats up to make that happen, and the Party won’t support conservatives in races that pre-poll closely. They want more Specters, or to lose. They’ll get what they want.
How it is is how it is, unless everything changes.
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:34 am #
Scraton
That’s 3 stops north of Scrotum, isn’t it?
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 8:35 am #
Wow! Sorry Danger, my Tiny-Url-Fu is indeed weak today…
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/09/obama-caves-to-iran-on-captured-quds-forces-in-iraq/
Try that
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:35 am #
How it is is how it is, unless everything changes.
Big pitchfork sale at Lowe’s this weekend.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 8:37 am #
“they might be skipping me.”
Alp,
If you own a firearm, pickup truck/SUV, a big dog or a yard large enough to require a riding mower their is no suprise the polls are skipping you.
Those pollsters are no dummies.
Comment by Curmudgeon on 7/9 @ 8:40 am #
And now “Buckwheat’s Bunghole.”
You forgot to denounce yourself. :)
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:41 am #
Check on all counts.
Shoot! I don’t get to talk to pollsters? Oh well, more time on the tractor.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 8:43 am #
alp, my fingers get excited sometimes when I think of all the money we are going to collect. But I mean, comeon, Scranton might as well be Scrotum. Why do you think I moved to Deleware? Can I put you down for several grand extra in patriotic duty? I knock off a bit if you let me shoot your guns while riding the mower.
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 8:44 am #
Obama and his cronies knew they’d have to raise taxes substantially after enacting the left-wing “wish-list” of pent up programs stymied over the last 30 years. They just counted on the media to help cover for them like they did for Obama during the election…
But now even Obama-AP is beginning to see through it: http://tiny.cc/fDEHM
And even a WaPo writer admits that it seems like Obama is pulling a “Reverse-Reagan” on the country; running up the tab and then declaring that we Must! raise taxes…In the name of fiscal responsibility!
http://tiny.cc/9Ucjq
If that devious strategy isn’t hypocrisy, I don’t know what is…
Here’s Cap’n Ed, with a funny video that highlights just that hypocrisy…
http://hotair.com/archives/2009/07/06/video-promises-promises/
I don’t usually go all link-festy, I leave that to Joe! But these were on topic so I thought I’d share the wealth!
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:45 am #
The pond would be good for you Joe.
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 8:49 am #
But now even Obama-AP is beginning to see through it:
Note that the basic innumeracy is still there, though.
providing medical insurance..at a projected cost of $1 trillion over the next decade.
…increasing taxes on alcohol, which could raise $62 billion over the next decade, and a new tax on sugary drinks…which could raise $52 billion.
Let’s see; 62+52 = $114 billion. A trillion is how many billion again?
Comment by Salt Lick on 7/9 @ 8:52 am #
Obama is pulling a “Reverse-Reagan” on the country; running up the tab and then declaring that we Must! raise taxes
This recession is Obama’s Katrina. Millions go on food stamps; he licks gelato.
Obama hates black people.
Comment by maggie katzen on 7/9 @ 8:55 am #
well, duh. 10,000 dead in Kansas tornado, 57 states, etc…
Comment by alppuccino on 7/9 @ 8:56 am #
A trillion is how many billion again?
I don’t know, but it’s close to getting into some real money.
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 8:58 am #
Not only are ur taxes increasing wildly, but the money is clearly being sent to predominantly Obama ‘08 supporting states…
http://tiny.cc/1m8iX
That’s a link to USA today, a well known winger publication if there ever was one…
Or that’s what the talking point will be by this afternoon!
Comment by Curmudgeon on 7/9 @ 8:58 am #
Straw Poll: Will Obamunist policies bring back stagflation, or lead to a new depression? 1970’s or 1930’s? I am betting on stagflation, however, foreign events and a more global marketplace are the wild cards.
Comment by Salt Lick on 7/9 @ 8:59 am #
Curmudgeon — You forgot to denounce yourself. :)
You’re right. I want to apologize to Buckwheat’s Bunghole. Buckwheat’s Bunghole never did anything but make me laugh. Especially when it puckered up in those ghost scenes. If Buckwheat’s Bunghole had produced anything resembling Barack Obama it would have put Buckwheat on apple enemas for 3 months.
Comment by BJTexs on 7/9 @ 9:09 am #
Try riding the tractor with a big assed plaster puppet head. Oh, and smear the tractor with the blood of Iraqi children and the tears of the uninsured.
That’ll do it.
Comment by Tim on 7/9 @ 9:27 am #
I am “rich” according to President Obama. Got “rich” by working my butt off, studying hard, working hard for a long long time, competed hard. President Obama plans on taxing the hell out of the “rich” to “spread the wealth around,” or because it is fair (according to the liberals).
Guess what? I am not going to be “rich” anymore. Unlike people who don’t have to life a finger to be poor, I have to work hard to be rich. Therefore I have decided not to work so hard (why should I since it just means more taxes and less benefit to me?), work less hours, and put more away into tax-deferred retirement accounts. I think President Obama is going to get a big surprise when we see that the number of “rich” people in this country is going to take a very significant drop as long as they are punished by being taxed more for working more. President Obama, get a clue and let America once again be a country where personal responsibility is most important in securing a persons life, and not a government handout or entitlement. Your approach does not work and WILL and IS leading to only worsening financial downturn in this country. Finally let me say that George W. Bush did his share of destruction of the U.S. as well by giving people drug benefits that were never promised to them and also adding to the level of debt to our children and grandchildren.
Signed,
A minority independent voter.
Comment by Salt Lick on 7/9 @ 9:31 am #
Are you serious about that “working less hours,” Tim? I’m genuinely curious. My father’s urologist said the same thing. But I don’t know how many of you “rich” folk will really carry out the threat. Won’t it affect your lifestyle? Your debt paydown? I’m interested, seriously.
Comment by Joe Biden on 7/9 @ 9:34 am #
Alp, As a boy in Scranton, in the winter, we had to chop holes through the pond ice in order to take a bath. It made me tough, but the cold water killed hair folicles.
I have developed a cross blend of Kentucky Blue Grass and California Sensimilla. After a long afternoon of medical treatments, I find health care makes a lot more sense.
Comment by sdferr on 7/9 @ 9:37 am #
To the question of the meta-argument over the changes in American governance, Paul Rahe, author of Soft Despotism, Democracy’s Drift: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocqueville, and the Modern Prospect, posting at Powerline on July 1, points to this, quoting Woodrow Wilson:
There is an argument going on, sometimes in the foreground, most times in the un-noticed background. It would be a good thing to get a handle on what the questions under dispute are. This question seems to be, how will men govern themselves? By means of the practical scheme worked out in 1793? Or by a new (presumably better) scheme? Rahe’s whole article is worth a read.
Comment by Dave in SoCal on 7/9 @ 9:52 am #
If this “surcharge” passes, it will finally make it worthwhile for my wife and I (who are one of those evil “Rich” $250K+ income earning couples) to change our tax status to “Married Filing Separately”, even in a community property state like CA (since we no longer qualify anyways for all the credits and deductions that are limited by this filing status). Which means Obama can go pound sand.
Comment by donald on 7/9 @ 10:07 am #
I got called for a poll once, I didn’t answer the questions right. I’m not a patriot.
Comment by Diane on 7/9 @ 10:08 am #
Tax the “Rich”?!? In today’s economy $250K for a family is NOT rich. My husband and I pay for everything without support of ANYONE- higher food costs, electricity, mortgage (even though we’ve been in the same house for 30 years and it is NOT a McMansion), state & federal taxes, education, college, we pay for EVERYTHING. No assistance for us, even the deductions most people get- we are not allowed, yet I need to pay more taxes for people that can’t (won’t) try to support themselves or who needed to keep up with the “Jones” thus put themselves in debt. I now have every incentive to not work- to stay under whatever limit Congress and Obama set. Let’s tax Congress and Obama for their healthcare and other benefits. Let’s MAKE them have the same healthcare they expect the rest of us to have- would Kennedy be doing so well if he had to receive care “in network”? Or if given his age, comorbid conditions etc, the law said he couldn’t receive the care he wanted?.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/9 @ 10:15 am #
someone here in California called this what it is when they proposed it here – it’s paying taxes on your taxes… it’s very sad to see this happen in our little country. It won’t be long now.
Comment by DarthRove on 7/9 @ 10:17 am #
Salt Lick #52: Together Mrs. DarthRove and I make enough to peek over the Alternative Minimum Tax line. If she cuts back enough to keep us under it this year, then it’s a net gain because we then qualify for deductions that are denied under AMT. But it is a fine line ($5k-6k or so) where the gains cancel out the losses.
But since this “surcharge” is to pay for “healthcare”, that means the Mrs. gets to pay for the folks dropping in demanding CAT scans for their cold and scamming for pain pills. Lovely, that.
Comment by happyfeet on 7/9 @ 10:33 am #
oh. I saw your title there. Right there in front of me. I think it might have been you what said that actually about the taxing your taxes. I have to go to Chicago now
Comment by Chris S on 7/9 @ 10:52 am #
Damn, I wish a were a Cayman Island banker right about now.
Comment by MarkJ on 7/9 @ 10:53 am #
Question: In 2010, what will be “America’s Great National Pastime”?
Answer: Tax evasion.
Comment by The Monster on 7/9 @ 11:06 am #
A tax nominally upon those who make over $250K will be passed along to their customers. But the idiots who vote for 0bama will believe that “someone else” is paying, and eat it up.
Comment by dr kill on 7/9 @ 11:09 am #
Re # 11 – I didn’t say it first, but I prefer Ice Cream Socialist. Perfect picture of today’s American Progressive and King Barry I.
Comment by Cranky-d & Associates on 7/9 @ 12:18 pm #
I’m still trying to figure out the idiots who love it when corporate taxes get raised. “That’ll learn ‘em,” they think. However, they don’t think about who ends up paying those taxes. Hint (though very few here need the hint): businesses effectively don’t pay taxes. To them, it’s just part of the cost of doing business. Just imagine if there were no corporate taxes. They could pay more in wages (which would be taxed). They could hire more workers(who would be taxed). They could invest in more infrastructure (which has to be built by someone who is making money and being taxed). The idea that somehow a company making more money is bad is insane. A company doesnt’ spend money. A company doesn’t make money. It is is.
The mind, it boggles.
Comment by Cranky-d & Associates on 7/9 @ 12:19 pm #
Please replace “is is” with “just is.” Thank you.
Comment by B Moe on 7/9 @ 12:52 pm #
That is a fucking hoot. Check out the “evolutionary” results when the parasite grows larger than the host, then get back with us.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 1:20 pm #
Cranky-d & Associates,
So is that a marketing gimmick or are you just moonlighting from your daytime job;)
Comment by LTC John on 7/9 @ 2:07 pm #
#35 – #$%&*@+! I helped catch some, no alot of those #$%&. When the 14th IA DIV, 1st IA QRF and friends cleared out Basrah and its environs, we caught dozens of those SOBs. They killed, stole and terrorized thousands of innocents either directly or through their JAM proxies. I cannot imagine MG Aziz and his men are real happy right with this.
I am #$&%ing angry now… I may just have to go hit the gym and work some of this sudden angry off.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 2:11 pm #
I am with ya Col just as soon as I finish with the enlightening links Thor provided us in the Stoney Heyer thread;)
Comment by sdferr on 7/9 @ 2:24 pm #
Releasing the Iranians is just Obama’s version of a familiar aphorism on omelet making and breaking eggs. And right about as moral.
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 2:25 pm #
Sorry to wind you up Colonel!
But I can’t say that your reaction is surprising or unwarranted…
Now folks will have to capture them all over again; and in the meantime, well, we all know what these punks like to do with their time…
It is a truly astonishing development…
Comment by Seth on 7/9 @ 3:30 pm #
Oh they might be found again, Bob. But I doubt our boys will bother to capture them again.
Comment by Bob Reed on 7/9 @ 3:37 pm #
Probably a good plan Seth…
Comment by SBP on 7/9 @ 4:00 pm #
There aren’t enough plausibly contestable seats up to make that happen
“Plausibly contestable” has a way of changing when the unemployment rate hits 15%.
the Party won’t support conservatives in races that pre-poll closely.
Fuck the Party with a rusty crowbar. Sideways, no lube.
Comment by Danger on 7/9 @ 5:42 pm #
LTC John,
Just back from the Gym and did a few extra reps for you and the 14th IA DIV, 1st IA QRF and friends.
Looks like we need more volleys down range boys
Comment by B Moe on 7/9 @ 6:09 pm #
It’s looking like the Democrat strategy is to just keep breaking laws and promises that nothing remains in the news cycle long enough to get any traction. The sad thing is it seems to be working.
Comment by cynn on 7/9 @ 8:05 pm #
You keep thinking that BMoe: we have big sleeves and something up them.
Comment by Big D on 7/9 @ 8:09 pm #
You say that as though you are proud of it, cynn.
Comment by B Moe on 7/9 @ 8:10 pm #
You always seemed better than a common shoplifter, cynn.
Comment by MarkD on 7/10 @ 7:07 am #
Can we say “million unemployed men march on Washington?” Not yet, but we are getting closer.
I wonder if Obama would call out the Army to disperse them. I really wonder if the Army would respond.
Comment by mac on 7/10 @ 7:10 am #
In Canada, the Province of Ontario enacted a similar surcharge on only the wealthiest citizens to pay for government medicine. Filing my wife’s taxes last year, I think you start paying the surcharge when your income hit 30,000. O! Canada.
Trackback by Maggie's Farm on 7/11 @ 4:30 am #
Saturday morning links…
Now they’re leaning towards a surtax – aka a tax on a tax
Marginal Rev uses the E Word to describe the health care negotiations in DC
What’s a bigger deal? Pols with romantic indiscretions or pols with $ corruption?
More good recent mil photos fro…
Comment by Rusty on 7/11 @ 9:41 am #
#78
78.Comment by cynn on 7/9 @ 8:05 pm #
You keep thinking that BMoe: we have big sleeves and something up them
Elbows?
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