–Senate Minority Leader Says GOP Wants Votes On Alternatives
–Blasts Obama For ‘Outrageous Ultimatum’ On Taxes
–Blasts Dems For ‘Petty Political Maneuvering’
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
intensified his attack on Senate Democrats Thursday, renewing his call
for a vote on a full one-year extension of the Bush era tax cuts.
In remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell continued to hammer
President Obama for his call to renew only those Bush era tax cuts for
those families making $250,000 or less.
McConnell called this an “outrageous ultimatum” and said that it
would increase taxes on many small businesses.
“Nobody should get a tax hike now,” McConnell said.
He said Americans continue to “reel from the slowest recovery in
modern times” and charged that increasing taxes would deliver an
“economic body blow” to the U.S. economy.
McConnell renewed his calls for immediate Senate votes on both
Obama’s tax plan and the Republican plan.
He ridiculed the statement of Senate Democratic leaders that
Obama’s tax proposal has not been put in legislative language.
“We can’t vote on a speech,” McConnell said, referring to Obama’s
Monday speech on tax policy.
McConnell accused Democrats of “petty political maneuvering” on tax
policy.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said that Obama’s plan would
retain tax cuts for 98% of Americans.
Reid has objected to McConnell’s call for immediate Senate votes,
saying it was critical to first pass a small business tax bill before
shifting to the larger debate on the Bush era tax cuts.
Reid has blasted the GOP tax plan as one designed to help wealthy
celebrities such as Paris Hilton, not middle class families.
The Senate is formally debating the small business tax bill, but
senators from both parties continue to exchange partisan shots on
broader tax policy.
** MNI Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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