GOP says it'll block bills until tax cuts extended

GOP says it'll block bills until tax cuts extended
AP
By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Associated Press – 4 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans threatened Wednesday to block virtually all legislation until expiring tax cuts are extended and a bill is passed to fund the federal government, vastly complicating Democratic attempts to leave their own stamp on the final days of the post-election Congress.

"While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike," all 42 GOP senators wrote in a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The 42 signatures are more than enough to block action on almost any item he wishes to advance.

The threat does not apply to a new arms control treaty with Russia that is pending, since it would be debated under rules that differ from those that apply to routine legislation. President Barack Obama has made ratification of the pact a top priority.

But it does threaten Democratic attempts to lift the Pentagon's ban on openly gay members of the military, a separate item to give legal status to young illegal immigrants who attend college or serve in the military, and a measure to expand first responders' collective bargaining rights. The tax and spending bills are likely to be the last to pass before Congress adjourns for the year...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_democrats_lame_duck_politics

so the GOP will stop blocking bills. :sarcasm:

It is as simple as that. If it is not allowed to expire, the cuts that will follow to pay for it will truly destroy the middle class. I beg them..beg them to please, please let the whole thing just expire.

add the words "for the rich"

That would be more accurate and it needs to be pointed out WHO they are fighting for.

Because I want to see this fight.

I want to see Reid and Obama going on camera every day and say that Republican Senators are blocking everything to fight for $70 billion in tax cuts to people with incomes over $250,000. Ask the American people - do these Senators represent YOU or do they represent people with incomes over $250,000? Call your Senator today if you think they should represent you.

Bring it the fuck on, because nothing will draw the media spolight more than a fight. Show that Democrats are willing to fight for people with incomes less than $250,000 and fight against the people who would represent them against the rest of us.

The right-wing media needs to be forced to show their hypocrisy and their brethern's hypocrisy.

Government is best which rules the least. We got plenty of laws in the books. There's no real need to have Congress pass a law to give gays the ability to serve - this can be done by the President and Gates by fiat.

The other laws you mention sound like rushed atempts to pass half baked laws. We need immigration reform done comprehensively, rather than passing a little law to help a few people. I think it's better if it stays the mess it is, and eventually they'll have to sort out the whole thing.

Besides, let the Republicans block and block. I would not give in to them. This will eventually lead to either the government shutting down or the GOP being seen as a party interested in making the president fail, and nothing else. People will decide in 2012 what to do. Myself, I'll vote Democrat even though I really hate their pro-war stance.

How deliciously foolish.

Fuck them! I swear, my threshold for tolerating their vicious behavior has been surpassed.

opportunity for real fun, if they took it on the chin like men. But to see them raving... !!!

Obama needs to railroad them now. Just issue an executive order. Bush showed the way on questionable issues. Their taxes should be raised!

Let them pass an extension of tax cuts for the rich, and Obama can sign it, and issue a signing statement that taxes are gonna go up for the rich. The Unitary Executive has spoken!!!