Opinion Brief

Do enough Democrats want to extend Bush tax cuts?

With increasing numbers of moderate Democrats balking, Obama's plan to let tax cuts for the rich expire hits a serious snag

With the midterm election campaign heating up, a small but growing number of Democrats are joining Republicans in opposing a tax hike for the rich. While the Obama administration and Democratic congressional leaders favor extending George W. Bush's tax cuts for couples making less than $250,000 a year, but letting the breaks expire for wealthier Americans, some moderate Democrats fear a voter backlash. Others say it's unwise to raise taxes in hard times when we need people to pump money into the economy. Is Obama's plan to make the wealthy pay more taxes collapsing? (Watch a Fox Business report about Dems and the tax cuts)

Yes, Dems realize Obama's leading them to disaster: Bush's tax cuts "sparked" the last "rebound for unemployment," says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air, and, as Dems belatedly realize, "socking" people with a tax hike now will have the opposite effect. That said, extending Bush's cuts is tricky for the Democrats — it thwarts their strategy of blaming Bush for everything — but, if they don't, they'll trigger another recession. 
"How can Dems extend Bush tax cuts while running against Bush?"

Obama still has the upper hand: President Obama can still beat these "weenie" contrarian Dems — "along with the Republicans they are enabling — at their own game," says Jed Lewison at Daily Kos. The defenders of the rich "have virtually no leverage": Obama could veto an extension for the wealthy, leaving his opponents no way to defeat his plan other than letting the tax cuts expire for everybody. "If that's a fight they want to have, it's a fight the administration should welcome."
"McClatchy: Handful of Dems fighting to extend Bush tax cuts for wealthy"

To prevail, Democrats need unity they don't have: The Democratic majority that wants to get rid of the Bush cuts for the rich has dwindled to 59 percent, according to a poll of party insiders, says James A. Barnes at National Journal. With the rest of Democrats showing no appetite for this battle — at least, not until after November's elections — it will be hard to "overcome determined GOP opposition" to raising anyone's taxes.
"Does GOP hold political high card on Bush tax cut debate?"

Recommended

Will Apple's $3,500 VR headset take off?
Vision Pro headset
Today's big question

Will Apple's $3,500 VR headset take off?

Why is Riyadh going it alone on oil cuts?
An illustrated image of oil rigs and oil barrels
Today's big question

Why is Riyadh going it alone on oil cuts?

Jamie Dimon 2024?
Jamie Dimon on Capitol Hill
Profile

Jamie Dimon 2024?

MoviePass stages a Hollywood comeback
MoviePass illustration
Briefing

MoviePass stages a Hollywood comeback

Most Popular

What is Mike Pence thinking?
Former Vice President Mike Pence on a motorcycle
Talking point

What is Mike Pence thinking?

Ban the Bible?
Holy Bible.
Briefing

Ban the Bible?

Actors union votes to authorize strike
A writers strike picket line outside Sony Studios in Culver City
strike two?

Actors union votes to authorize strike