Sometimes the inequity of our governing classes reaches such mindboggling proportions, I want to rant like the insane King Lear.
As you probably already know, 2010 is the year to die is you are really wealthy. The Estate Tax disappears for one year only. Under the Bush plan, it would have reverted to its pre-2001 rates of 55% of estates over a $2 million exemption. President Obama proposed a 45% percent rate over a $7 million exemption.
Even this was too much for every single Republican and 9 Democrats in the Senate, who voted by 51-48 to enact a 35% rate over a $10 million exemption.
While the wealthy are able to command a majority of support in the Senate, down to the umpteenth trust fund baby generation, and are able to command $Trilions for Wall Street, a simple bill to help medically needy children, "SCHIP, plus" still languishes in committee
{Note: edited for correct name of house bill}
Here are the nine Democrats who voted against Obama's proposal
Baucus (D-libertarian nutcase paradise)
Bayh (D-preening)
Cantwell (D-Microsoft)
Landrieu (D-???)
Lincoln (D-WalMart)
Murray (D-Microsoft)
Nelson (D-God's waiting room)
Nelson (D-???)
Pryor (D-WalMart)
Tester (D-libertarian nutcase paradise)
It just boggles the mind. The very same people who rail against deficit spending, vote to increase the deficit by granting relief to the wealthiest estates -- estates of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, whatever generation of unearned, inherited wealth.
Meanwhile sick and needy children are told, figuratively and literally, to drop dead.
Dead Money Talks, Dying Children Walk. Your Senate Congress at work.