I listened to Representative Van Hollen on NPR this morning. I don't know anything about him, but it sounds like he is one of the Representatives leading the House opposition to the tax cuts.
His only point was that the estate tax is too generous. I think there is a lot more wrong with the tax cuts, but that's the only thing he discussed.
More to the point, though, he only asked for an open debate on the issue. Like Mr. Obama, he seemed to be okay with a process victory. If we get to debate it, the outcome doesn't matter. He all but admitted that if got to ask for a review, and the Senate reviwed a change to the estate tax and said no change, that he would be OK with the bill as is.
How wimpy can you get? He's just asking the Republicans "are you really sure", so when they say "we're realy sure", he can respond "OK then, glad we got to debate it".
If that's all were going to do, then the House should just approve the Senate bill, recess and go home for the holidays.
Disgusting.
I meant to add: I tried to write his office to comment, but his web mail only accepts mail from his district. Oh well.