$1.5 Trillion GOP Tax Cut Thread

[Pericles]

They are going to botch this too aren't they?

Don't get your hopes up. I wouldn't be surprised if McConnell and/or Ryan threaten to kick people off committees if they don't vote for this.

That would require them to be competent. Last tax reform in 1986 took a year and a half to pass and was done in a bipartisan manner, but these idiots think they can get it done by Christmas.

[Pericles]

I'm not going to straight up panic yet. If "the Trigger" is in the senate bill, I expect it to be removed in conference which might freak out Corker and the upcoming Byrd Bath probably endangers Murkowski's vote.  Regardless of what happens, we've got atleast another week of this crap.

Corker and everyone besides Collins and Murkowski and McCain were/are always and always will be yeses. Don't kid yourself

I'm not going to straight up panic yet. If "the Trigger" is in the senate bill, I expect it to be removed in conference which might freak out Corker and the upcoming Byrd Bath probably endangers Murkowski's vote.  Regardless of what happens, we've got atleast another week of this crap.

There will be much moaning and gnashing of teeth by various Republicans along the way, but eventually this will pass in some form.

I'm aware, but I've got a slim ray of hope that something screws this all up.

Remember the big nasty fight over Cap and Trade back in 09/10? That bill passed both the House and Senate, but died in conference.

No it didn't it passed the House narrowly and was never taken up by the Senate.

[Pericles]

If this passes Democrats need to hike taxes on the rich as soon as they get in in 2021, and ideally hike top income tax rates above 50% to pre-Reagan levels. This can be done with an infrastructure reform bill, overhauling the tax code and destroying Trump's one accomplishment while actually delivering for working Americans and creating more jobs and rising incomes.

[Pericles]

If this passes Democrats need to hike taxes on the rich as soon as they get in in 2021, and ideally hike top income tax rates above 50% to pre-Reagan levels. This can be done with an infrastructure reform bill, overhauling the tax code and destroying Trump's one accomplishment while actually delivering for working Americans and creating more jobs and rising incomes.

How many votes are needed to increase taxes...is it a simple majority?

That could totally be done with reconciliation, especially since this bill will be done with reconciliation. 50 votes would be needed. And if the Democrats abolish the filibuster as I'd prefer it would be so much easier(repeal& replace was impeded by many GOP policies not being able to pass reconciliation).

[Pericles]

Wait Corker and Flake are opposed? Link please

[Pericles]

Collins may flip if she realizes the effect on coverage is too great. Or some darkhorse like Daines or Lankford could torpedo it. It's not safe when every Senator is the deciding vote.

[Pericles]

McConnell's going through repeal and replace all over again.

[Pericles]

"we have to pass it to find out what's in it"

That's what Nanci Pelosi said about Obamacare.

That's the point.

[Pericles]

Genius idea: Schumer abolishes the filibuster when Democrats get back in power. Then, when Democrats lose the majority, he reinstates the filibuster, and changes the rules to require all future rule changes get the support of a majority of Democratic Senators(so it can't be changed back without his consent). Republicans can't do anything. Democrats come back, abolish filibuster again. Rinse and repeat.

[Pericles]

By the same logic, wouldn't the Republicans have already gotten rid of the legislative filibuster at this point? I'm going to extend the rate benefit of the doubt to them in this case, although I think you are right in the rest of your post about how it's better to have 4 extra years of Obama appointments to the bench.

Not necessarily. Democrats/liberals lose out more with a legislative filibuster because many big things we want to do then take 60 votes. Meanwhile, big things conservatives want to do, like cutting taxes and spending on liberal stuff can be done with bare majorities. I'm sure conservatives have their own dreams that require 60 votes right now, but they get by pretty well with the status quo.

Also consider that even without a legislative filibuster, after Democrats go buck wild in their turn with a federal trifecta, and enact a slew of new social programs, Republicans would be hard-pressed to roll those back due to the inevitable backlash. It's very hard to take those things away once they are implemented, hence why Republicans would want to keep a filibuster to block them from ever being implemented in the first place.

Exactly.

[Pericles]

Seriously though the filibuster should be abolished as there will be so much good stuff that Democrats can accomplish without it and Republicans know Democrats will benefit the most from its abolition.

[Pericles]

Ah looking forward to when the rich pay 60% in taxes in 2021. This will boomerang right back on them.

[Pericles]

Ah looking forward to when the rich pay 60% in taxes in 2021. This will boomerang right back on them.

None of the Democrats that you support for 2020 would ever do that.

Which Democrats are those?