–Senate Majority Leader: GOP Is Refusing Offer For Direct Votes
–Sen. Reid: Dems Want ‘Up or Down Majority Votes’ On Two Tax Plans
–Senate Minority Leader: Obama ‘Isn’t Even Talking’ To GOP On Cliff
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday
the Senate will hold a key procedural vote Wednesday related to
Democratic and Republican tax cut plans.
In remarks on the Senate floor, Reid said the vote Wednesday will
be on a motion to formally consider a Democratic plan to renew those
Bush-era tax cuts for a year for those families making $250,000 or less.
Reid said he would like “up or down majority votes” on both the
Democratic and Republican tax cut plans.
Republicans are pressing to renew all Bush era tax cuts for a year.
In his remarks, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said
Republicans are determined not to increase taxes on any American.
McConnell said the Democratic tax plan is “based on ideology” and
would harm the economy.
“To them this is more about messaging or passing the buck,” than a
plan that “actually helps the American people,” he said, adding “it’s
quite disgraceful.”
McConnell blasted President Obama for campaigning full time. “He
isn’t even talking to us,” McConnell said, referring to Republicans.
“The fiscal cliff draws closer with each passing day,” he said.
House Speaker John Boehner has said the House will vote next week
to extend the Bush era tax cuts for a year.
The debate on tax cuts is an integral feature of the battle over
the coming fiscal cliff.
The fiscal cliff refers to the convergence of three fiscal events
later this year or early next year: the expiration of Bush era tax cuts,
across-the-board spending cuts, and increasing the statutory debt
ceiling.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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