The House GOP has released this year's gimmick, the "Pledge to America," which has obtained a copy of. Included in the pledge is this:
We will end the attack on free enterprise by repealing job-killing policies and taking steps to assure current business and future entrepreneurs that the government will not stifle their ability to compete in the global marketplace.
By permanently stopping job-killing tax hikes, families will be able to keep more of their hard-earned money and small businesses will have the stability they need to invest in our economy and help grow our workforce. We will further encourage small businesses to create jobs by allowing them to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income.
How convenient for Republicans. On the day they release their pledge, they'll also have an opportunity to vote for the small business bill.
The House is expected to move the Senate-passed version that includes $12 billion in tax breaks and a $30 billion fund to expand credit access to small businesses, according to a Democratic aide....
Business organizations that have backed the measure say the loan fund could spur $300 billion in lending. White House officials and other supporters have said that the bill is the key to giving small businesses the support they need to hire and expand.
Oddly enough, the first time the House passed a version of this bill, only three Republicans voted for it. In fact, Republicans have voted against seven out of eight of the small business tax cuts. What's more, they've "voted against closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas five times even as millions of jobless Americans are looking for work."
So here's their chance to get an early start on fulfilling their pledge and actually voting for small businesses. They could show voters that the really mean it this time. Except that this bill doesn't have any tax breaks for rich people or for companies which ship jobs overseas, which in Republican speak is the definition of "small business," so it doesn't seem too likely.