"Obama tax deal: 'Irresponsible,' 'unfair,' say Inslee, McDermott"

Joel Connelly (seattlepi.com):

Two veteran Seattle-area Congressmen, Jay Inslee and Jim McDermott, D-Wash., have signed a letter that denounces President Obama's tax cut deal with Republicans as "fiscally irresponsible" and "grossly unfair."

The letter is being circulated by Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, as an indication that House Democrats will not go along with the deal. It gives advice and a warning to the Democratic president: "He should not back down. Nor should we."

Inslee, seen as a possible Democratic candidate for governor in 2012, singled out a provision that would extend Bush-era tax cuts to those making more than $250,000 a year. He described Republicans as "hostage takers" holding up Congress' business on behalf of high-income earners.

"Tax cut bonuses for millionaires and billionaires will greatly expand the deficit, undermines the values of working and middle class families, and continues the failed Bush economic policy," said the 1st District congressman.

McDermott, who represents most of Seattle in Congress, described the tax cut deal as Obama's "Gettysburg." MORE...