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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCantor Suggests Raising Taxes On The Poor: ‘You’ve Got To Discuss That Issue’
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) revived one of the GOPs favorite talking points this morning, telling attendees at a Politico-sponsored breakfast event that it was imperative that Congress address the problem that more than 45 percent of Americans arent paying income taxes.
The GOP has repeatedly made the claim that the poorest Americans need more skin in the game. Today, response to a question by ABCs Jon Karl, Cantor made it clear that Republicans are interested in raising taxes on the poor while lowering tax rates for everyone else as part of any comprehensive tax reform plan:
CANTOR: We also know that over 45 percent of the people in this country dont pay income taxes at all, and we have to question whether thats fair. And should we broaden the base in a way that we can lower the rates for everybody that pays taxes. [...]
ThinkProgress has repeatedly explained why many Americans dont pay income taxes most either dont make enough money or are college students or seniors with no yearly incomes. And those Americans are subject to various other forms of taxation, including the federal payroll tax.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/04/19/467476/cantor-raise-taxes-on-poor/
anti-alec
(420 posts)I'm serious.
He's an embarrassment to the Jewish community all over.
Make him face an early retirement from Congress.
surrealAmerican
(11,365 posts)I'm guessing he represents people who are quite as vile as he is, or he wouldn't say things like this.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)and the disabled who have enough income are already taxed. As for children - shame.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Leave the Koch Brothers aloooooone!
LonePirate
(13,431 posts)So it's good for people who have nothing or little to pay more but it is bad for millionaires and more to pitch in another per cent or two. Rommunism indeed!
madokie
(51,076 posts)my apologie for using that word but he royally pissed me off
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)morally bankrupt?
Initech
(100,108 posts)The GOP just doesn't give a shit about anyone that's not an über wealthy white male. It's revolting when their candidate is a guy who made a living destroying other people's. Worst party ever.
shcrane71
(1,721 posts)By removing the "Making Work Pay" credit, the US Congress raised taxes on the working poor.
saras
(6,670 posts)Ilsa
(61,705 posts)Daniel537
(1,560 posts)We can only hope enough people are paying attention to vote out these jerks.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)Last edited Thu Apr 19, 2012, 08:00 PM - Edit history (1)
Smarmy piece of worm ridden filth.
WhoIsNumberNone
(7,875 posts)When you raise the standard of living of that 45% above the poverty line, and we'll talk about making them pay some taxes.
Lasher
(27,641 posts)Cantor wants to discuss federal income taxes only, while ignoring other forms of taxation. That's because he really doesn't care about being fair. He's just trying to rationalize being a corrupt toadie for his affluent owners.
Other taxes, particularly regressive payroll taxes, change the overall tax burden distribution. Everybody who receives earned income is subject to payroll taxes. Three out of four US taxpayers pay more in payroll taxes than they do in income taxes.
Congressional Budget Office breaks down the 2007 share of the federal tax burden (only) as follows: The highest quintile (top 20%) received 55.9% of all income. They paid 86.0% of all federal income taxes and 68.9% of all federal taxes. The poorest 40% earned 12.4% of income. They paid -3.3% of federal income taxes and 5.4% of all federal taxes.
The Tax Foundation produced a breakdown for 1991 to 2004 that includes all federal, state, and local taxes. In this report the top quintile (the top 20%) received 41.5% of all US income and paid 48.8% of total taxes. The bottom two quintiles (the poorest 40%) earned 22% of all income and paid 13.9% of total taxes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressivity_in_United_States_income_tax
The lower 40% pays taxes. The top 20% is currently paying a higher percentage of federal taxes than they were from 1991 to 2004 because they are receiving a greater share of the income. That's unfair and Cantor is not going to make it any better with his reverse Robin Hood scheme.
Taitertots
(7,745 posts)And willing to believe any lies the GOP will barf out.
We could take everything the bottom 50% have and it wouldn't put a dent in the debt.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)HiPointDem
(20,729 posts)We can discuss raising taxes on the rest after we discuss raising taxes on the rich.
But that's verboten.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,390 posts)WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said lawmakers who signed a no-new-taxes pledge with conservative activist Grover Norquist should honor their commitment.
Cantor, who signed the pledge, said during his weekly media briefing Monday the issue isn't about a person, but about keeping one's word, The Hill reported.
"It's not about Grover Norquist. It's about commitments that people make to the electorate that they represent, to the people that sent them here," Cantor said. "That's what this is about. Your word should be good to your constituents, and that's what we're dealing with here."
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/11/14/Cantor-Keep-word-on-no-new-taxes-pledge/UPI-46321321307033/#ixzz1sZWfgh3z
Hypocritical fuck. He tries to say "no new taxes, ever" one moment, and then wants to raises taxes on the people least able to pay them the next.
Lasher
(27,641 posts)An obvious one you would think, but I did not immediately make this connection. This makes it more clear that the Norquist pledge is nothing but a loyalty oath to the wealthy elite.