War-tax shot down
Democratic congressional leaders rejected a proposal to use an income-tax surcharge to pay for the Iraq war. Rep. David Obey
Democratic congressional leaders rejected a proposal to use an income-tax surcharge to pay for the Iraq war. Three senior Democrats floated the idea of a graduated surcharge of 2 to 15 percent to “drive the costs home” to Americans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said no, and held a news conference to say that the idea was “not a party proposal.”
Rep. David Obey “blindsided” his party’s leaders with this doozy, said Ed Morrissey in his Captain’s Quarters blog. In the process, he “reminded people that the Democrats have offered little on how to win in Iraq or on terror and have focused mainly on running away.” He also “embarrassed” the party leadership. Doesn’t he know that “Democrats want to hide their tax increases, not broadcast them across the nation”?
The “rapid dismissal” of the idea by Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid showed “just how politically toxic the issue of tax increases remains for Democrats,” said Martin Kady II and John Bresnahan in The Politico. “Democrats in power on Capitol Hill are emboldened these days, confident that the polls are swinging their way on Iraq, children’s health care,” and other domestic priorities. But they “realize the political peril of hitting regular Americans’ paychecks.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What's so radical about saying how we’re going to pay for this mess? said the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in an editorial. As Obey said, “If this war is important enough to fight, it's worth paying for.” That’s certainly a more “responsible” approach than President Bush has offered. He just wants Congress to rubber-stamp his request for another $190 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, and leave our grandkids “staring dazedly at the titanic bills.”
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The way AI is discussed makes it seem like this is a necessary outcome'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
The New York Times plays defense after publishing leaked Mamdani college application details
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision to publish details of Zohran Mamdani's Columbia University application has reignited simmering questions about sourcing and editorial guidelines