Congress Should Be recused From Voting On Bush Tax Breaks

::::::::

The GOP is up in arms and they want the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy to be passed "so it will help the economy and create jobs." Congressional Republicans are stating that they have a "mandate" and as usual, the party of NO is lying through their teeth. Even worse, the GOP's desire to "help our economy" is another crock of crap that the GOP is hoping that Americans will buy, hook line and sinker.

Half of Congress members are millionaires

By Holly Bailey

The economic outlook may still be lousy, but Capitol Hill, at least, doesn't seem to be feeling much pain: A new study by the Center for Responsive Politics finds that half of all members of Congress are millionaires.

The report, based on financial disclosures covering the calendar year 2009, finds that 261 House and Senate members reported a net worth of more than $1 million. Of those, 55 had an average wealth of $10 million or more, and eight lawmakers reported holdings of $100 million or more. MUCH MORE

The United States Congress is comprised of millionaires, and if you follow the link you will find that even in this poor economy, our Congress is getting richer while the poor are finding themselves in a position that medicines and other essential have to take a back seat to food and lodging. It's bad enough that Congress can vote in their own pay raises - but with that thought in mind, why hasn't someone produced a white sheet demonstrating just how much Congress will pocket if these tax breaks for the rich are continued??? Our Congressmen are cheats and liars and if they aren't taking bribes they are figuring out ways to use their Congressional seats to enrich themselves. Only "we the people" can make this stop.

This is an issue that should be handled by the Executive Branch because it is a huge conflict of interests. Would we allow our Congress to vote on financial issues that are in direct conflict with "we the people?" From the President on down lawmakers and other government officials are made to purge their stock in certain companies so that they cannot vote for measures that would enrich them personally. Why is this different? The only way that Congress should be allowed to vote on continuing the Bush Tax Breaks is if they are continued, these tax breaks will not apply to any member of Congress.

It's incredibly sad that the GOP is continuing their unmitigated greed and bolstering their arguments by telling bald faced lies to the general public. A new poll from CBS indicates that the majority of Americans do not favor continuing the Bush Era Tax Cuts to the wealthy:

CBS News Poll: Most Oppose GOP Tax Plan

Posted by Brian Montopoli

Republicans have argued that the midterm elections have given them a mandate on what they are calling one of the most important issues facing America, the extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.

"The American people want us to stop all the looming tax hikes and to cut spending, and that should be the priority of the remaining days that we have in this Congress," incoming House Speaker Rep. John Boehner said Thursday. Boehner added that a House vote Thursday to extend the cuts for all but the highest-earning Americans amounted to "chicken crap."

According to a new CBS News poll, however, Boehner is off-base in his claim that Americans "want us to stop all the looming tax hikes."

The poll finds that 53 percent of Americans want the Bush-era tax cuts extended only for households earning less than $250,000 per year. That roughly matches the proposal put forth by the White House, which wants to extend the cuts only for incomes less than $250,000 for families and $200,000 for individuals.

Just 26 percent of Americans say they support extending the cuts for all Americans, even those earning above the $250,000 level, which is the GOP proposal. MORE

We are paying for a Congress that is inherently corrupt and when you factor in GOP obstructionism, we are paying for a service that we are not receiving. In a nutshell, that's an excellent example of taxation without representation. Even worse is when the GOP leadership lies to the entire public and expect us to take it without a fight. CBS, how about calling it like it is: Boehner wasn't "off base," he was lying.