| Democrats Prepared to Throw Nation Off 'Fiscal Cliff' |
| Jul-16-2012 |
| Keywords: murray, fiscal cliff, republican, democrat, react |
The rhetoric heating up on Capitol Hill after a key Senate Democrat warned she's willing to push the nation off a fiscal cliff if Republicans don't give the president his middle class tax cut.
Speaking at the Brookings Institute today Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash said, "If we can't get a good deal, a balanced deal, that calls on the wealthy to pay their fair share, then I will absolutely continue this debate into 2013, rather than lock in a long-term deal this year that throws middle class families under the bus."
The fiscal cliff Murray referred to is the $600 billion dollar tax hike that will soak taxpayers if Congress and the president don't extend the Bush-era tax cuts.
Reports claim that Murray, a Budget Committee member and former co-chair of the debt supercommittee, said she hopes it doesn't come to that, but is placing the burden on Republicans.
"If Republicans won't work with us on a balanced approach, we are not going to get a deal," Murray said, suggesting "responsible Republicans" must step up in pushing for revenue and raising taxes.
Those comments are drawing sharp criticism from Republicans who say Murray has exposed the political games being played at the expense of taxpayers struggling in an already shaky economy.
House Speaker John Boehner asked in a statement Monday: "Has it come to this, that Democrats are willing to hurt jobs and tank our economy for the sake of a small business tax hike that would also have disastrous consequences?"
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell also reacted to Murray's threat.
"In their near-fanatical crusade to inflict even more pain on American businesses, Democrats are now openly admitting that they plan to wait until this debate reaches full throttle and Americans are panicked about the outcome to do anything, because they think it will make it likelier they'll get their way."
McConnell went on to say "And if they don't, then so be it. They're ready to accept the economic and fiscal consequences. They see a crisis coming, and they don't want to waste it."
Murray's comments come after President Obama last week said he wants Congress to extend tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000, while affectively raising taxes on those who make over that amount. |
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Posted by Lou Dobbs Staff at 10:00 AM Email to a friend |
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