I'm not a numbers guy. At all. In fact, the subject makes my eyes glaze over. Am I reading what this guy is saying correctly?
Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) called on President Obama and top Republicans to agree to a deficit-reduction deal that extends all the Bush-era tax rates for six months.
Portman, the former director of the Office of Management and Budget, said that extending the current tax rates into 2013 was the only way legislators could come to a broader agreement on deficit reduction.
In other words, the only way you continue to get what you want. You'll be doing the same thing six months after that.
"I think [President Obama] might consider [extending the current tax code for six months]," Portman said, "if we make a commitment right now" to tackle tax reform and entitlement reform.
Right
now!
So let me get this straight: If Republicans would only just compromise by accepting their own goals, the President might be persuaded to giving Republicans what they want. Got it.
"The work's been done by a lot of different groups, there will be increased revenues. Those increased revenues will come from those who are in what is now the top two brackets. And there could be some other revenue."
So does that mean you're ok with taxing the rich, after all? I'm getting confused.
Portman said he would not sign on to a deal that extended the tax rates for 98 percent of Americans, but put off a tax rate extension for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans until next the end of 2013.
Portman said doing that would hurt the economy.
"The president would get what he wants. He wants to sort of exact his political pound of flesh here after the election. I understand that," Portman said. "But let's not do it in a way that hurts people who are trying to find work. [...]"
It's kinda what the majority of the country wants, not just a triumphant president trying to rub an election loss in your face.
And how does holding middle class tax cuts hostage by insisting that those who aren't looking for work won't have to pay more taxes for another six months do anything to help those who are looking for work?
Am I missing something here?