SENATE BILL: WHITE HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL (On the President's Desk)

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Hmmm. I'm not too sure about this budget. Personally, I'd like to see some changes made to the Aid to Low-Income Families area. I think we should really take a look at where we can start pulling money out from the budget, and implement more job training programs for those on welfare. It looks like just too much money is going into some of these programs. If we can get Atlasia back to work, assitance will go down and maybe we can really balance the budget in the next few years.

I'm not against helping the people, I am against abusing the system.

Um... respectfully, I'm hearing a lot of... statements, but what exactly do you want to take out and where do you want to move it to?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I would recommend you refer to the previous Budget in the GM thread, I've increased housing and similar funding and also increased funding for skills training and education.

I'm open to seeing alternative paths if they're not sufficient.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Wow...

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I can't support those upper-end tax increases... I understand the desire, but no, can't support that at all.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Senator TJ...

Are you proposing increasing taxes on lower and middle-income people to give the wealthy a cut?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I agree that 60% is too high a tax rate - it was my first-term tax plan that lifted the tax-free threshold to $9500.

I wouldn't support either tax amendment.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The 60% bracket is too high, as I've said - but a tax-free threshold is there for a reason. I won't support any Budget which hits the poorest the hardest.

If someone wants to propose a cut in upper rate... without slugging the lower end to make it up... go ahead and I'll look at it.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

How about instead...

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I think this would make for a good compromise.  The downside of this, however, would be a steep decline in revenue...

I like the intent... but those are MASSIVE hits to revenue in one year... if you want to propose cuts of that nature, best to phase them in over a few years.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Would this be a workable amendment?

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I'd be good to get some work on revenue derived from this option, I could see myself supporting this, or something like it.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

As the great American Senator Dick Lugar would say...

Why not a flat tax?

 One of the things I agree with both Lugar and the VP.

not while I have breath in my body and the strength to sign a pen

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Hmmm.... I wonder if we vetted you properly.