Once again, I am befuddled. The Democrats have a great issue that is very popular, that the president ran on in his campaign, and that makes good policy sense. Let the tax cuts on the rich expire, but extend them for the other 97% of Americans. Technically, we can’t afford to make the tax cuts permanent for anyone. But we do have an incentive to extend them as a form of stimulus in this down economy. So, let’s make the Republicans vote on it. Are they going to vote in lockstep against extending middle class tax cuts on the eve of an election? Let’s see if they’ll cave. If they do, great!! We have our preferred policy. If they hold firm, great!! We have a rock solid issue to beat them with all the way to November 2nd.
So, what do the Senate Dems do? They punt. They want to hold the vote after the election when it can’t help anyone.
I understand that some Dems don’t want to cast a vote that raises taxes on anyone, even if it is only the top three percent, before the election. But do we seriously think it will be easier to pass that tax hike in a lame duck session?
I don’t get it.
