Pence: Axe Health Reform, Keep Tax Cuts for Rich

Democrats in Congress should cut taxes for small businesses, retain Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, and repeal their own health care reform legislation, says Rep. Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Pence on Thursday will unveil a Republican "Pledge to America" - a legislative agenda based on input from Americans at hundreds of town hall meetings that Pence said the Democrat-controlled Congress should enact right away.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Election 2010

The agenda "will focus on getting this economy moving again, getting spending under control, and, yes, it includes rolling back the, both the failed economic policies and broadly rejected government takeover of health care enacted last March," Pence told CBS "Early Show" anchor Harry Smith Thursday.

A key plank of the agenda is a 20 percent cut in income taxes for small businesses, similar to the one that Republicans have blocked in congress this month.

The difference, Pence said is that "Congress ought to be acting to make sure there is no tax increase on any American at any income level" and the Obama administration "continues to insist on a policy that would allow taxes to go up on Americans that file tax returns over $200,000 a year."

"This nation has a long way to go to restore fiscal solvency to this country," Pence said. "What we hope is that as Americans look at the Pledge to America, they understand that this is our effort at a good start."

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jabberwolf says:

IS CBS this stupid?

The Healthcare is an abomination, costs more than it fixes, and passes on the buck to the middle class that pays for healthcare and subsidizes that dont pay for it.

The Tax cuts are to start projects, raises, job creation.
You know, the things that Obama has tried to stop for the last 2 years.


Parsifal_tx replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Actually most public networks, including CBS, are geared towards Americans with a elementary school education, they know anything that requires analytical thinking will negatively effect their ratings. Half the nation doesn't like to think, they rather have the government do thinking for them.

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Parsifal_tx says:

Do people think that the rich hoard their money in matresses?

NO, the rich either spend their money goods and services or they invest it.

Raising taxes will cut spend and reduce captital that business need to stay afloat. Investment capital is a lot cheaper and faster to get from investors than over-regulated banks. Raising taxes during an economic downturn is foolish idea.


bajajohn1 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; A lot of this so-called small business is very large business taking advantage of pass-through provisions in the tax code to shield this mega firms from paying taxes. Most are Chapter S corporations and are taxed individually as investors. Some never pay a dime but put their money in tax shelter and defer other taxes for up to 20 years. Pence's proposition is pure malarkey and is designed to protect the rich at the expense of the middle class and the working poor.


Parsifal_tx replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; @bajajohn1: If S-corporation didn't pay taxes before, they don't pay taxes now, so they won't pay taxes when tax cuts expire - so what's you're point? Nothing is on the floor to change this.

But since we're on the subject of unintended consequences of foolish ideas. There are approximately 15 million American seniors that primarily live off dividends income to supplement their SS check, yet they'll be taxed at 35 and 39.6% in 2010 and 2011, regardless of what tax bracket they are in. Many seniors nest eggs have been devastated by this economic collapse and haven't yet recovered, medicare funding has been cut, nothing has been done to slow down medical cost, the government ignores their needs, and now they're dividends taxes are going from 15% to 35% January 1, 2010.

Hasn't grandma sacrificed enough already? Obama threw her under the bus already, will Americans support running her over?

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Pro_America says:: I make overy $1,500,000 each year and if Obama raises my taxes I am firing the butler and two landscape employees. Boy, that tax increase really helped create some new jobs didn't it? It will cost three people on my payroll their jobs.

Get real people. The poor don't create jobs, the successful people do.

If you cut my taxes everyone on my staff gets a 5% raise.

YOU CHOOSE, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU THINK HELPS OUR ECONOMY.; reply

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tsigili says:: I will trade you tax cuts for the rich, for taxes on American Corporations manufacturing their products off shore. The taxes for off shore manufacturing must be steep.; reply

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Tiddah says:: I do not think Obama has had enough time to fix the economy yet. This was a very bad recession. Let's give the dems two more years. We must have patience, nothing happens overnight.; reply

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TXcardplayer says:

Vote Democrat and Enjoy the TAXATION INFLATION AND CONINUED TAKEOVER OF FEDERAL GOVT. Ethics ! HA! that is laughable.! Waters in Trouble-Franks involved - Raines w Freddie Mac ran out the Backdoor with his $Millions before they could fully look over the 2-3 sets of "books" but hey =Who cares if the Housing Market Crashes and Millions are put in the street and out of Work= isn't that all part OF THE SOCIAL JUSTICE? Who wrote the VERY WORTHLESS FAILED Stim-U-LESS ? Why is an outside Group and George Soros Pundits Controlling the White House and The U.S.? To demonize and European-ize (Social-ize ) the US and then we get Healthcare Takeover =oh i mean Reform. Really . Where is the Reform other that Creating Massive Controls by the FEDS and IRS to check on you . Sickening.


jabberwolf replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Shhhh the morons are too busy blaming the republicans and completely ignoraing that Fannie and Freddie was all democrats doing and IT was the culprit in the financial crisis... not banks.

And while banks and GM pay back loans and TARP... fannie and freddie take 10s of BILLIONS more... have taken the largest portion ar tarp... have paid back nothing... and probably never will.

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holalanemeir says:

Has ANY TEA PARTY SUPPORTER sent back a social security benefit check? Has any Tea Party supporter declined medicaid during their hospital admission? Has any tea party supporter sent back an unemployment check? .............anyone..anyone...anyone...................crickets.


jabberwolf replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Would a tea party member refuse BETTER medicare?
or a better economy so they wouldnt NEED an unemployment check?
Anyone Anyone Anyone? ....... more crickets.

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getcentered says:

Republicans will rally against gay people, stripping them of civil rights, and then you find them tapping their toes in airport bathrooms looking for their gay lovers.

Besides stoking anger at Democrats and Obama, just what is the Republican Party offering? Tax breaks?

We've been down this road before.

Dividing people with emotional exploitation, screaming for tax breaks and ending of industry regulation is all the Republican Party is about and is absolutely funded by the companies that benefit directly from the tax breaks and deregulation.

What does the United States of America deserve for voting for Republicans? An oily, poisoned Gulf of Mexico?

Would you hire a confessed animal hater to run a pet store? No? Then why would you elect politicians who freely admit to despising government? This Republican plan is just a stale old rehash of bad ideas that have already been proven not to work.

Republicans have no credibility so my choice is clear.
Hands down, I'll be voting for the Democrats.


endrepubs replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Great comment! Sums it up nicely. Especially the part about electing politicians who openly despise the government they want to be part of.


TXcardplayer replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Yeah : Those Ethical Democrats Like the Waters/Frnaks Scandal: The resulting $12 million boost to OneUnited?s bottom line ? again without a penny moving anywhere ? finally allowed it to look healthy enough to win the loan?

The Obama administration has thus far produced 639 pages in response to Judicial Watch?s FOIA investigation of the Waters/Frank bailout scandal. But they?re still keeping 203 pages under lock and key. It is not hard to see why.
& Your TAXES continue to go up...and Your Healthcare ends up beginning waiting for 30-60 to make a Appt.

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realist51 says:

If we really want to reduce the deficit why not let all the tax cuts expire? and cut spending. win/win. people aren't spending any way. there have been as many jobs created by taxcuts as there have been through the stimulus.(no way to prove any policy worked)when the top 10% control 90% of the wealth and economy then they should be paying 90% of the taxes so stop the whining when 50% of the wealth is controlled by 50% of the population things will be more equitable. othere than all this there has been no new ideas in the contract. And how about finishing or honoring the first one.


pubsrtoast replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; I agree that the middle class tax cuts should expire but please, consider how difficult the rich in this country already have it before you inflict even more pain on them.


endurorob_5 replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; The top 10% do pay the majority of the taxes. Why not keep all the cuts, create more cuts for small business and cut spending? If you let all the tax cuts expire then not only will people not increase their spending they will cut it. And do not be foolish enough to think that in the current climate that letting these cuts expire will decrease the deficit. When the current crop we have in congress and in the white house see an increase in revenue then they see that as a good reason to increase spending.

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endrepubs says:

Why don't the Republicans want to reduce the top tax rate to just %10. According to their theory that the rich create more jobs when taxed less. That should bring the US completely out of recession and set off a tremendous growth spurt.


pubsrtoast replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; As a matter of fact, in the depths of their insanity tax-cuts generate government revenue. We should just set the tax rates to zero and the government coffers will be overflowing with money.


Pro_America replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; Historically tax cuts have grown the economy every single time. "Free enterprise" will prevail over "Free handouts" every time.