Progress Ohio | Dave Harding's Blog: Video: President Sets Budget Trap GOP Takes The Bait

Video: President Sets Budget Trap GOP Takes The Bait

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio - Mar 27th, 2009 at 2:50 pm EDT

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Categories: Budget Priorities, News, Featured

Ryan Grim: GOP Budget Proposal: Massive Tax Cut For Wealthy

House Republican leaders called a press conference Thursday to unveil their "alternative budget." While it was thin on specifics, it does include one major policy proposal: a huge tax cut for the wealthy.

Under the Republican plan, the top marginal tax rate would be slashed from 35 to 25 percent, facilitating a dramatic transfer of wealth up the economic scale. Anyone making more than a $100,000 would pay the top rate; those under would pay 10 percent.

"Two nights ago, the president said, 'We haven't seen a budget yet out of Republicans.' Well, it's just not true, because here it is, Mr. President," said House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), waving a blue document in the air.

"Today we're introducing a detailed road-to-recovery plan," he told the reporters. Other than the tax proposal, however, the plan was absent any details. Instead, it hammered the Democratic budget as too expensive.

Reporters -- mainstream, liberal and conservative -- greeted the Republican document with a collective scoff.

"Are you going to have any further details on this today?" the first asked.

"On what?" asked Boehner.

"There's no detail in here," noted the reporter.

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White House scoffs at House GOP's budget

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Mar 27th 2009 at 3:48 pm EDT (Updated Mar 27th 2009 at 3:48 pm EDT)

After several days of challenging Republicans to propose an alternative budget, the White House on Thursday scoffed at what House Republicans put forward earlier in the day.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs ridiculed the GOP proposal for being brief and containing a "picture of a windmill" instead of numbers.

"It took me several minutes to read it," Gibbs joked.

Gibbs said the president is "absolutely" disappointed that the Republicans' counterproposal doesn't contain more detail.

"I think the 'Party of No' has become the party of no new ideas," Gibbs said.

Gibbs added that "we just hope that next time it will contain actual numbers so somebody can evaluate what it means."

"I don't think that's a whole lot to ask," he said.

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The Real Republican Road to Recovery

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Mar 27th 2009 at 3:50 pm EDT (Updated Mar 27th 2009 at 3:50 pm EDT)

The Republican "Road to Recovery" budget alternative, rolled out today by John Boehner, has been criticized by left and right for its lack of specificity and its promise to eliminate the national debt while significantly cutting taxes. FiveThirtyEight.com, however, has received an advance copy of additional details prepared by the Minority Leader's office. Although some elements of the proposal are still under discussion -- Eric Cantor is said to want to eliminate North Dakota rather than Idaho, while Thaddeus McCotter has suggested using the balance of TARP funds to purchase scratch-off tickets -- the final plan can be expected to contain most or all of these components.

Must see the graphics!

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Re: The Real Republican Road to Recovery

By OHliz Mar 28th 2009 at 6:12 am EDT (Updated Mar 28th 2009 at 6:12 am EDT)

Yes, end the War on Octomom. Also, appoint Joe the Plumber as Wall Street Overlord. He looks authoritative wearing a Snuggie.

DNC Web Ad: The Number Zero, Brought To You By The Party Of N-O

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Mar 27th 2009 at 3:56 pm EDT (Updated Mar 27th 2009 at 3:56 pm EDT)

View The Video:

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The GOP "Budget"

By Dave Harding, ProgressOhio Mar 27th 2009 at 4:27 pm EDT (Updated Mar 27th 2009 at 4:27 pm EDT)

On a more substantive note, I do think it's fairly revealing that the only specific policy proposal in the entire budget with numbers is a massive tax cut for the rich. The "plan" proposes establishing two marginal tax rates -- 25% for those who make more than $100,000; 10% for everyone else. As I'm sure you know, that's a huge benefit for those who are doing pretty well. Clearly, this is not a party whose sole mission in life is to redistribute income up the ladder.

It's also worth noting that, hilarity aside, it's full of misleading and downright false assertions. A few of the biggies that I saw was the continuing attempt to pin the market meltdown on the Community Reinvestment Act (of 1977), and Fannie and Freddie.

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