November 13th, 2012
10:25 AM ET
Labor to press Obama on tax hike for wealthy WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) - A cadre of top labor leaders is headed to the White House on Tuesday to press their concerns about the fiscal cliff. Topmost on their list: Tax hikes for the wealthiest Americans, and protection from cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other programs for low income families. Attending the meeting are leaders representing teachers, municipal employees, nurses, truck drivers, grocery store clerks, and factory floor workers, among others. |
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good luck Mr. President. Don't back down .
now that what we need more compromse, Don't back down??? How about all parties talk and work thing out. Don't back down is four more years on nothing getting done. WE as a country can't afford that.
we back up the president's plan
Does it really matter what he does? You'll love him the same any way.
Hail to President Obama, you have inspired me to do better in life, thanks your Mr. President
http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/I.shtml Federal government A to Z listing. I see lots of departments that need to be combined or eliminated. Congress needs to take care of their over sized budget before they take any more money from its citizens. Take a good look at foreign aide. Giving away our money when our economy and deficit is in the toilet. Clean your own house first.
Aw, yes,
Let's screw the job creators. We pretty well screwed the Auto Companies and finally threw in the Towel and got a bailout. So, now that we have sucessfully completed that job let's just screw the rest of the country. Now that we've gotten our Turf we need to protect it. Forget that the big liberal social programs and the 16 Trillion Dollar Federal Debt is a glaring failure of liberal politics we need help, Now!!
That bailout you are talking about saved a million American jobs and it paid off considering GM and Chrysler are back on top of the automotive world. As far as your "job creators", keeping a low percentage on the top tax bracket has been proven not to grow the economy. Plus, they have seen record profits since the end of the recession. When middle-class families have a little extra to invest in a car or a laptop, that is when the economy grows. If you don't believe me, I encourage you to take a look at history and also the study conducted by the Congressional Reasearch Service. Good day to you, sir.
Here we go again... When it's mentioned about raising tax on wealthy individuals, we hear the term "job creators" tossed out. APPLES & ORANGES, people. Raising the tax rates on Warren Buffet or the Koch Brothers will have NO effect on Berkshire Hathaway or Koch Industries! They are 2 different things! If individual taxes are raised on David Koch, do you really think he's going to fire his butlers, maids, chauffeurs, gardeners, and secretaries? If we lower them, do you think he'll hire more personal employees? ... or even give the ones he already has a raise, or better health coverage or pension. It's apples and oranges: taking a small slice out of the APPLE is NOT going to disturb the ORAGE one bit.
Here we go again... When it's mentioned about raising tax on wealthy individuals, we hear the term "job creators" tossed out. APPLES & ORANGES, people. Raising the tax rates on Warren Buffet or the Koch Brothers will have NO effect on Berkshire Hathaway or Koch Industries! They are 2 different things! If individual taxes are raised on David Koch, do you really think he's going to fire his butlers, maids, chauffeurs, gardeners, and secretaries? If we lower them, do you think he'll hire more personal employees? ... or even give the ones he already has a raise, or better health coverage or pension. It's apples and oranges: taking a small slice out of the APPLE is NOT going to disturb the ORANGE one bit.
Really will you explain just who and where are these job creators you keep mentioning? Do you mean those same billionaires and corporations that up until now have not up to this point had their taxes increased, that have been generously rewarded with subsidies in the range of billions of dollars.... to the point that several of them of them including the Koch brothers have not paid a dime in federal taxes for several years. We can no longer afford subsidizing the rich.
We spend $59 billion on social welfare making sure old people and children eat and get basic care...but we shell out $92 billion or more in corporate subsidies. We shell out $70 billion to the fossil fuel industry alone....like who thinks Exxon is hurting? Like $58 billion in deferred taxes for sheltering their income off-shore....Really like we need more off-shore tax evasion.
Recognize the hogs at the trough for what they are greedy. How about a fairer economy that stops pandering and spoiling the rich hogs at the top...make them live by the same rules as the rest of us.
Real job creation blooms and flourishes when the people in the middle, and those at the lower end of the wealth scale have the means to consume.
If at first you don't suceed try, try again! If you can't earn it honestly then just steal it. So, after 75 years of big liberal social programs, by democrats why are we in this mess? Why are we even talking about it? If after all these years things are no better maybe it's time to try something else. That good horse you are riding getting a bit tired? Don't worry, he will soon be dead. And then what? People voted for it, now live with it.
From everything I read, most jobs come from small business, so taxing them to death helps no one. "Real job creation blooms and flourishes when the people in the middle, and those at the lower end of the wealth scale have the means to consume". I am truly serious about this question, because I don't understand "growing from the middle out". If the government does not provide a climate favorable for business, those who do the hiring, how does the middle class have the means to consume if they don't have jobs?
@ jean ...
CAT SCAN DISCOVERS IDIOT GENE PRODUCED IDIOT JEAN !!!
Where have the so called job creators been for the last 10 plus years? They've been creating jobs alright, for China and India and whoever else they can low ball and then line their own pockets with the profits. I think Americans have finally had enough of the greed. Hopefully you billionaires/millionaires will now have to ante up and pay your fair share.
You do not need to be rich to be greedy.
Unions pressing the president to hire more teachers and improving schools!!! More unionized teachers equals more money in the union’s pockets. More unionized teachers equal a downgraded educational system. Protecting teachers from being fired for lack of performance and mandatory raises is the reason the system is broken. Personal accountability is gone. If you are not good at your job you should be fired like every single one of the Chicago teachers that protested several months ago.
You must be talking about the teachers who refuse to be compensated based on performance ... but, rather demand higher salaries, pay raises, promotions, and pensions, merely for showing up. It's called tenure ... but, our corrupt politicians will gladly pander to the teacher's unions, and use our tax money as payola ... in exchange for votes, and political contributions.
Howard in what grade did you drop out of school?
Wow, what a shock this statement is! I say we tax Trumpka at 100%
Since when does this country penalize people for being successful.. This is absolutely disgusting. What do people think?? They are going to all of a sudden start receiving BONUS checks from people that are wealthy?? they worked to get where they are in life, they deserve it not the grocery store worker who dropped out of high school..
Lets go back to our founder fathers! America has always been the land of opportunity and we as proud Americans should be compelled to work hard and make money for ourselves in our beuatiful and unique America!! If we do that and our children see our efforts they will imitiate us and will do even better than us to keep making this the best country in the world! We have the best of the best. We should be united not divided. It is so easy to say "tax Trump 100%" but if we do, he would leave the country and would create jobs somewhere. We should not depend on the Goverment to set our futuro, we must make our own future and do something for this wonderfull land. God Bless America, my Home Sweet Home!!
Union? How many jobs did union create so far? None.... I do not know why people still need corrupt union for. I work for the company without union, but it has given good care of its workers.
Increase the rate for all tax payers, across the board. Or else increase it for no one. By the way, unions are worthless.
Oh, Deeeeeannnnnn,
Everybody, even the rich, will get a tax break up to the first $250,000.00 earned. And, EVERYBODY will have to pay after that amount.
Besides, I don't think some Hedge Fund operators should pay 13 or 14% in taxes on their earnings when the smaller investors have to pay 35% on theirs. Also, Mitt's idea of capping deductions at the top income levels is being looked at very seriously. I know Mitt was trying to sound like a Moderate when he said it and probably would have changed his views after the election had he won. BUT, it is a good idea, like healthcare was in Mass..
Cynthia, it will not mean anything unless the 88,000 page tax code is scrapped. Congress and the White House still must deal with credits, deductions and loopholes. The same businesses paying today will be paying more. Those that don't pay still will not pay.
Like keeping the subsidies for the RICHEST company on the planet, EXXON MOBILE who pays no taxes, that the Republicans insisted still be the recipients for 'CORPORATE WELFARE' ?? Yes, I would say there are definetly changes to be made, let's start with that one.
Do not forget about GE. Posted 5.1 Billion in profit and paid no Federal taxes. Works both ways.
I absolutely agree ALL should be looked at. There is no argument there, Caramon.
Unfortunately, it will never happen. Representatives from both sides have received compensation (contributions et al) for adding the loopholes to the tax code. Members of neither the House or Senate want to give that up.
Did we actually agree on something?
Both sides have to do some serious soul-searching and give us ELECTION REFORM where people can't be bought to promote the interests of a small group of moneyed-money grubbers to fund campaigns and receive cushy perks.
Yes, we can agree and have before and I'm sure it will happen again. Cheers to you and yours.
Thanks Cynthia. And cheers back!
Unions represent us. They support tax hike on wealthy.
Why is this a union concern to begin with?
Labor concerns should always be part of the conversation. I suggest you do a little back-story on why people started unions in the first place. When profits exceed concerns for safety, health and fair wages for the people who are doing the hard work of making that business a success in the first place, it creates divisions that are hard to heal. When a CEO makes 300 times more than an employee, something is terribly wrong. I am happy to see that Obama is making an effort to help America go forward in a way that forms a partnership with business and labor. There are many success stories out there and their examples need to be built on. It's time to start listening to each other.
Actually John Adams signed mandatory health care into law July 14, 1798, basically due to the fact that ship owners were dumping sick and injured sailors on the doorsteps of the local populace of port cities when they could no longer work. This was a burden and an expense on port cities who were having the expense of caring for and sometimes burying them. The law enacted required that twenty-cents per month was to be withheld (mandatory) from the wage of each merchant sailor to be collected from each ship's captain and that included foreign vessels, and the money was put into an insurance fund to care for ill and injured seamen. It was "The Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen".
Actually I think our founding fathers would have been fully behind unions. Just think...John Adams as President signed the legislation, Thomas Jefferson was President of the Senate, and Jonathon Dayton (the youngest man to sign the Constitution) was Speaker of the House. Think that should tell the right-wing nuts and teapotty just where our founding fathers stood on human rights issues.
My point is unions have no legislative vote. This is a legislative issue and not a union issue. P.S. I studied unions in college. Based on union efforts federal law changed dramatically to better protect workers. Now unions are political. That is their choice but their primary function, workers are now covered under a multitude of federal law! I once marched in a Samuel Gompers parade as a member of a military. So I know , even studied the Molly McGuires! Why did you assume I did not know?
Steveo
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
My point is unions have no legislative vote. This is a legislative issue and not a union issue. P.S. I studied unions in college. Based on union efforts federal law changed dramatically to better protect workers. Now unions are political. That is their choice but their primary function, workers are now covered under a mult-itude of federal law! I once marched in a Samuel Gompers parade as a member of a military. So I know , even studied the Molly McGuires! Why did you assume I did not know?
...A member of a military color guard!
THERE WILL BE MASSIVE LAYOFFS AS COMPANIES WILL HAVE THE EXCUSE TO LOWER THEIR 'SPENDING' TO PAY FOR MORE TAXES. I'M SURE LABOR WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
7 TRILLION IN TAX HIKES AND BUDGET CUTS IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH TO SCARE PEOPLE. MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE SALE OF TEXAS AND MASSACHUSETTS TO CHINA FOR MORE IPADS.
December, I fully understand you wanting to sell off Bushville but Kennedyville? What's up with that?
My friend, as I stated to Cynthia, this is a legislative action! Congress is going to have to vote on way or the other on the issue of rising taxes and unions like the rest of us with have to live with the consequences of whatever the vote will be! The only way unions will sway the vote is to lobby! Some unions have already voiced agreement to raise taxes. Businesses letting people go is a consequence. I am not saying it is right or wrong just stating such action is a consequence!
So, DID WE VOTE FOR GROVER NORQUIST at any point in time, Steveo?? Yet, how many Republicans signed his pledge to not EVER raise taxes which meant NOT letting the current Bush Tax Breaks for the wealthy expire DESPITE THE FACT IT IS WHAT VOTERS WANTED?? Please, respond to that.
Obama, is talking to different organizations that INCLUDE BUSINESS in an effort to create jobs. You remember the jobs thing? Voters wanted him to work on that issue and that's what he is doing.
Cynthia L,
So, DID WE VOTE FOR GROVER NORQUIST at any point in time, Steveo??
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Absolutely not! There are consequences for that action just as there are for raising taxes in a recession (something even the president said was not wise). Actually we are already seeing some consequence already, SOME businesses are starting to lay folks off. So no, Norquist was never on a national ballot nor were the unions! Again, raising taxes is a legislative action, not union action! There has to be a balance! Cutting waste should be that the top of the list.
Letting the Bush Tax Cuts expire IS CUTTING WASTE.
Cynthia L,
There is waste in EVERY government program to include entitlements, defense, payments to the UN, foreign aid, the list goes on and on! Spending is going to have to be curtailed. Better we do it as a choice rather than by force (can't afford to pay the bills anymore)!
How many people HONESTLY believe raising taxing is going to be limited to the rich? If businesses get hit, guess who is going to pay for it? It will get passed down to consumers! It ALWAYS does. BTW I NEVER heard that these taxes are going towards paying down the deficit?
Even if all these taxes increase, does anyone honestly believe it'll go towards the debt?
No! It will go to "investments" (additional spending).
Gee wouldn't it have been wiser if George W. Bush instead of sending everyone $600 every year had just used that $1.6 trillion to pay down the deficit he was creating with unfunded wars?
Jean, yep that would have been helpful and it would also be extremely helpful if the $1 trillion in cuts not go to other spending but to the debt!
I don't know if you know this or not but DEMOCRATS voted to FUND and FIGHT those two wars!
Actually Steveo, I just read an interesting article written by someone who thinks the wealthy 2 percent should pay a little more to help fund research while cutting defense. Another responded showing defense also pays for the same research.
As promised.
We want the wealthy 2 percent to pay a little more to bring down the deficit.
We want the wealthy 2 percent to pay more toward education.
We wamt the wealthy 2 percent to pay more for infrastructure.
We want the wealthy 2 percent to pay more to help social security and medicare.
We want the wealthy 2 percent to pay more for healthcare.
We want the wealthy 2 percent to pay more for unemployment.
The list goes on and it doesn't add up to a little bit more.
The math does not add up, ESPECIALLY if this additional revenue does not go towards the debt!
Even the rich are saying they need to be taxed more. The TEN MOST WEALTHY COUNTIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY VOTED FOR OBAMA.
just saw an interview with the national teachers union president who is calling for slamming it to the higher earners...when ask where he would cut spending he refused to respond... so, tax the folks who already pay 40% of all taxes by increasing their taxes by 40% to raise $80 billion over the next ten years..and NO cut to spending..and that will take care of our problem...insane!
Let's look at it this way, the states with the lowest income tax rates do not have better economic growth. States with higher tax rates actually have weathered the recession better than states with lower tax rates.
Basically lower taxes are only funding the already well-heeled...otherwise we are falling behind other industrial countries.
Suggested reading – America's Aversion to Taxes. -Eduardo Porto
THIS Eduardo Porter?
Taxes Show One Way to Save Fuel
By EDUARDO PORTER
Some economists say that new fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks will do less good for the environment than a straight tax on gasoline.
September 12, 2012, Wednesday
This guy wants to tax everything that moves!
You didn't read the article "America's Aversion to Taxes" did you?
I'l answer your question with a question, why are your suggested readings always from a lefty perspective? When was the last time you suggested anything from a centrist position?
Centrist ..really...of course, you mean within the range of looking at everything from the viewpoint of Atilla the Hun? A diversity point of view in reading selections won't hurt you. Where would be the benefit of suggesting the closed thought selections you may have already read?
Jean,
I could have subst-ituted "conservative" for "centrist". How would you have answered that? If "centrist" causes you to bring up Attilla the Hun, what or who would you envoke for "conservative"?
So who will the unions and Obama blame for off-shoring the rich?
That's not true jean. California is a mess and Texas is doing well, and California has very high income tax rates.
Lower tax states are drawing businesses FROM California!
Here are a few examples:
-Comcast moving 1000 jobs out of California – The Business Journals
http://www.bizjournals.com/.../comcast-moving-1000-jobs-out-of.ht...ShareSep 26, 2012 – Comcast Corp. on Tuesday said it was closing all California call centers and moving..
-2011 total: 254 companies leave California | moved, companie ...
http://www.ocregister.com/.../moved-342887-companies-texas.htmlShareMar 2, 2012 – In 2011, 254 California companies moved some or all of their work and jobs out of state, 26% more than in 2010
Relocation Expert Warns California's Tax Hikes Will Push Out More ...
http://www.advisorone.com/.../relocation-expert-warns-californias-ta...ShareMay 16, 2012 – “Every client I've ever served has saved various taxes by moving out of the ... but believes California has the highest number of business exits
'Taxifornia' driving businesses out | california, business, percent ...
http://www.appeal-democrat.com › LettersShareJun 13, 2012 – Letter: 'Taxifornia' driving businesses out | california, business, percent, ... Moving to Texas, for example, reduces business costs by 40 percent.
Campbell Soup pulling out of Sacramento – The Business Journals
http://www.bizjournals.com/.../campbell-soup-pulling-out-. Moving ops to Ohio, NC, AND TEXAS! The plant Sacramento plant will be closed in 2013! 2000 jobs gone!
DAN B you are correct!
Campbell's well Ohio is a tomato capital ... but the truth is 30,669 households moved to in California 2011 according to records of the three largest moving companies Allied, United and Atlas and a 5.9% jump from 2010. California is still the world's 9th largest economy...just think of how many countries that puts California ahead of?
As I showed there is a exodus of businesses from California! the reason: High taxes!
Well, gee, California just voted itself another hike. The key word here, again, VOTED. After years of tax-breaks and the resulting decomposition of infastructure, attacks on school funding, among other important items, people woke up to find they didn't like those aspects of money being squeezed from those needs. If people move away, more room for the next guy to florish. The people here are creative and forward thinking, where new ideas and opportunities tend to grow and change the world. FEAR OF FLYING is not part of the nature of this place. So refreshing.
Cynthia L,
Californians will have to deal with that vote, I don't live there! Meanwhile business are still moving out, primarily due to the high tax rates!
My understanding is unions are right.
IMPOSE A COPYRIGHT TAX ON CONTENT OWNERS
So do I understand from your post, you are not a content owner? Very liberal of you!
Hmmm, Obama claims he has a mandate to increase taxes because he won the electoral college?? It’s very interesting that significantly more Americans actually voted for all the Repblican congressmen than for the President, thus I would say that John Boehner has a much stronger mandate from the public not to raise taxes!
People are realizing that California ain't so great. This is the first time in a long time that California gained no electoral votes. Texas in contrast gained 2 and Arizona gained 3, 2 red states.
Texas may be red now, but for just how long that will be the case is a valid question. Besides the reason California moved from 8th to 9th place in world economies could very well be due to the devastation caused by years of artificially low taxes and gross deficit spending; which allowed their infrastructure to fall apart. Finally the people voted to pay for those necessary repairs and improvements. The tax increase doesn't go into effect until Jan 1...so quit whining and come back and let us know in 3 to 5 years if things are better or worse. i see you are going to a .07,5% sales tax rate something we in many parts of Ohio already pay.
MULTIPLE LIES COMING FROM THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY ASSEMBLY IN THE SANCTUARY STATE.
Stephen Frank Stated on 11/14/2012 on California deficits as follows at http://capoliticalnews.com/
In the past two months, the cash deficit of the State has gone from $22.3 billion to $24.7 billion—just for the first four months of the year.
Plus the State OWES $12.5 billion to K-12 education
It owes $15 billion stolen from Trust Funds to cover cash deficit
It owes $10 billion BORROWED to cover the rest of the cash deficit. The State owes the Feds $10 billion for the loan to the unemployment insurance fund—so California can continue to send out unemployment checks.
That is a total of $71.5 billion—and there is more. Yet, the State claims “California faces a $1.9 billion deficit through June 2014, significantly smaller than in recent years after voters passed two tax initiatives last week, the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office said last Wednesday”
They claim we will have this small deficit, instead of $71 billion because of the $9 billion Prop. 30 is going to bring in, in new revenues! Any wonder our kids are illiterate—this is the math taught in our schools. Government lies—and tries to make you feel good about being insolvent.
Seems like marijuana must be legal in government offices, he has studied.
HOW MANY LEGISLATORS ARE BRAZENLY LYING ABOUT THE TRUE DEFICIT IN THE 50 STATES?
California has the highest population of illegal aliens who have settled there. Thousands of children of illegal alien parents gaining automatic citizenship and the cost is thrown at the taxpayers. Health care and other free handouts that are the right of citizens is being disbursed to anybody who sneaks across the border or steps off a plane. None of the 50 states is exempt from this silent attack on our country or the pilfering of their general treasuries. Now the Democrats have their majority public entitlements will be pouring out across the state to all the “Freeloader voters” the spongers and the people who have no intention of finding a job. A large proportion who pay no taxes at all, the parasitic people who are a great windfall for the Democrats and Liberals, who believe we owe them a living?
Obviously there is an exception to this rule, whereas there are special needs people, the sick and handicapped in some form or other. There are the homeless veterans and plenty other others, but we have become an public assistance nation, but some of the 49 percent that Mitt Romney talked about have scrounged their way through life and allowed the taxpayers to carry them. A great number have figured a way to deceive the welfare system, which is a stain on the real workers. Because the system could easily be thwarted, with stolen ID, the elderly and the sick lose their major assistance to the scroungers. When we cannot truly look after our troops returning from the warzones and still have millions of homeless without hope, then why are we either bringing in millions of legal immigrants, other than highly skilled workers that are always welcome?
Why is not illegal entry a Felony? CAN ANYBODY ANSWER THAT QUESTION?
IS CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS COMMITTED TO SUBSIDIZE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOREVER?
BEFORE ANY PASSAGE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM FINDS ITS WAY THROUGH THE CONGRESS, TWO BILLS ARE A NECESSITY TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE INGRESS OF ANY MORE FLOWS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. 1. THE LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT CONTAINING MANDATORY E-VERIFY AND HALT ILLEGAL ALIENS TAKING JOBS AND HOLDING EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE. 2. A SIMPLE AMENDMENT TO END THE BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP BILL TO STEM THE INFLOW OF SMUGGLED BABIES EITHER UNBORN OR AS AN INFANT, INTO THE UNITED STATES TO GAIN INTENTIONAL RIGHTS TO BE A CITIZEN AND A MASSIVE FINANCIAL BURDENING THE U.S. TAXPAYER. 3. THE REINTRODUCTION OF FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH 2006 SECURE FENCE ACT IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS IS A DOUBLE PARALLEL FENCE STRETCHING ALONG THE BORDER OF THE U.S STATES AND ITS SOUTHERN NEIGHBOR. AMERICA MUST REDUCE SANCTUARY CITIES, CHAIN MIGRATION AND THE ILLEGAL ALIEN INVASION. 4. A GOVERNMENT ISSUED PICTURE ID CARD, WHICH CONTAINS INFORMATION TO USE IN PROVING WHO YOU ARE?