"I'm trying to figure out how anyone can keep a straight face and say they're for deficit reduction while they insist on a permanent tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, completely unpaid for," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., left. With her, from left, were Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. (Alex Brandon, Associated Press / December 3, 2010)LA Times:
Emboldened Republicans seem unlikely to back down on extending breaks for wealthy taxpayers.---Congressional Democrats searched for leverage Friday in their bitter debate with Republicans over extending George W. Bush-era tax cuts, lashing out against giving "tax breaks to millionaires" and preparing for a rare weekend session in the Senate on the issue.
But the increasingly aggressive Democratic posture may come too late in the protracted battle over the fate of tax cuts that are set to expire Dec. 31. The White House has indicated it would consider an agreement with Republicans to temporarily extend all tax breaks, even for households earning more than $250,000 annually, if the GOP agreed to concessions and withdrew its block on certain Democratic priorities.
Throughout the week, Democrats appeared to hold the weaker hand as emboldened Republicans demanded a permanent across-the-board extension of tax cuts, even for the 2% of households that have earnings over $250,000.
But after days of internal debate, and as liberal outside groups began stepping up advertising and outreach efforts nationwide, Democratic lawmakers returned Friday to a common-man narrative, trying to shake off the listlessness of their midterm election rout last month. MORE...
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