Earlier this week, president Obama came back to his old plan to keep taxes unchanged for those earning under $200,000 but to raise them for everyone else. Obama bills his tax increase as a way to help grow the economy even though he admitted repeatedly in the past that a tax increase of this sort would hurt the economy. So Obama is back to his call for further tax increases for the rich.
One would think that the Democrats would support Obama out of party loyalty, but that is not the case. This morning, Republicans in the Senate tried to get that chamber to vote on Obama's plan as well as to vote on a Republican plan to keep rates the same for everyone. The Democrats blocked the vote. here is how the Washington Times reported on this story:
Republicans, eager to put Senate Democrats on record on taxes, tried to force a vote Wednesday on President Obama's proposal to extend middle-class tax cuts but raise taxes for the rich, but Majority Leader Harry Reid objected, essentially sidelining the president's plan.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republicans' leader, tried to set up competing votes — one on the GOP's plan to extend all the tax cuts for one year, and another on Mr. Obama's proposal to extend them only for households making $250,000 or less.
But Mr. Reid objected to the request, saying he didn't want to have the vote on the GOP's legislation.
It is truly amazing that within three days, Obama raised this tired old plan, made a major push to promote it and then saw it blocked by his own party in the Senate.
America needs a president who can at least lead his own party.
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