GOP shoots down two versions: extending tax cuts for those making under $250,000 and under $1 million per year
By Andy Birkey | 12.06.10 | 8:30 am
The U.S. Senate rejected two bills aimed at extending the Bush tax cuts for the middle class on Saturday after Republicans filibustered and Democrats couldn’t get the votes to break it. Minnesota Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were among those voting to end the filibuster and allow a vote on the tax cuts. An extension of the middle class tax cuts now appears dead in Congress.
The Senate considered two bills: one that would extend the Bush tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 and another that would extend those cuts for people making less than $1 million, which was intended to be a compromise with Republicans. The GOP, however, was able to defeat both bill through the use of filibusters.
Franken and Klobuchar both voted to stop debate and vote on the bills.
Franken took to the Senate floor and chastised Republicans for rejecting an unemployment benefits extension because it adds to the deficit but pushing for tax cuts for the wealthy without regard for the deficit.
“Now, frankly, I’m a little tired of being lectured by Republicans on the deficit,” he said. “We all know that Bill Clinton inherited the largest deficit in history from George H. W. Bush and then handed George W. Bush the largest surplus in history. And George W. Bush nearly doubled the national debt. He also handed Barack Obama the largest deficit in history. And, of course, my friends on the other side of the aisle controlled the Congress for most of those Bush years.”
He continued, “So Republicans say that these unemployment benefits are too expensive and will add to the deficit. They demand that these unemployment benefits must be paid for. Tax cuts for the richest people in America? No need to pay for those. Adding $700 billion to the deficit-or actually $830 billion when you factor in extra interest payments? No problem.”
Here are Franken’s full remarks:
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