PUT THE BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH...Back in Place

White House: No Debt Deal Unless Tax Rates on Top Earners Go Up !

By Amie Parnes - 11/29/12 01:52 PM ET

 

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Thursday there will be no deficit deal unless Republicans agree to raise tax rates on the wealthiest households.

“There can be no deal without rates on top earners going up,” said Carney, who reiterated that the president will not sign legislation that extends the Bush-era tax rates for the wealthy.

“This should not be news to anyone who was not in a coma during campaign season," Carney said of the president’s stance on taxes.

Carney’s ultimatum came on a day in which both sides dug in and appeared to move farther apart on a deal to prevent tax hikes on most households and crippling spending cuts to defense and non-defense budgets set to hit in January.

Talks have focused on taxes, with Republicans offering new tax revenues but holding firm that they will not agree to raise tax rates on households with annual incomes above $250,000.

The president wants tax rates extended on all households below that threshold, but says rates above it should be phased out. If the sides don’t reach a deal, all of the Bush-era rates will simply expire at the end of the year.

Republicans want to focus the talks on spending and entitlements.

Speaker John Boehner on Thursday said there had been no progress in the talks over the last two weeks, and demanded that the White House offer specific spending cuts as a concession.

Carney called Boehner’s demand that for spending cuts to be equal to any increase in the nation’s debt limit “deeply irresponsible.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and legislative affairs director Rob Nabors met with Boehner and other leaders on Capitol Hill Thursday following a 28-minute phone call between the Speaker and president on Wednesday.

“It was frank and direct and a good conversation,” Carney said of the call.

He said Obama has “put forward very specific cuts” but that the White House hasn’t seen “movement” from Republicans.

“We have seen some important signs of recognition of work that has to be done,” Carney said, but “we're not there yet.”

Still, he acknowledged: “We remain optimistic that this can get done.”

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

SOCIAL SECURITY ~ MAKE IT BETTER !

Leave Social Security off the Table !

By Max Richtman, president and CEO, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare - 11/28/12 05:30 PM ET

 
For too long, many in Washington have been obsessed with using Social Security’s revenues as the solution for a whole host of fiscal problems that have nothing to do with the Social Security program. Whether it’s cutting benefits in the name of deficit reduction (even though Social Security by law can not contribute to the debt) or diverting payroll taxes to stimulate the economy, these  approaches ignore the fact that Social Security is paid for, earned by, and promised to American workers. Thankfully, the White House and many in Congress are finally acknowledging Social Security should not be used as political leverage in Washington’s version of “Let’s Make a Deal” and simply does not belong in this deficit debate. However, as long as the chained CPI and extension of the payroll tax holiday remain under consideration, Social Security is still in the political cross-hairs.

Cutting Social Security benefits for millions of Americans by adopting a stingier cost of living formula is anything but the administrative “tweak” many claim. The proposed chained CPI would cut benefits for millions of seniors, veterans, federal retirees, and people with disabilities. Cutting the cost of living allowance by 3% for workers retired for ten years and 6% for workers retired for twenty years translates to a benefit cut of $130 per year in Social Security benefits for a typical 65 year-old. By the time that senior reaches 95, the annual benefit cut will be almost $1,400. That may seem like no big deal to the well-funded anti-deficit lobby and corporate CEO’s who want middle-class Americans to pay down the debt but those dollars mean a lot to seniors living on the average Social Security income of just $14,000 per year. That’s why the vast majority of Americans and more than 50 of the nation’s leading military, veterans, seniors, disability, and federal employees’ organizations joined the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare in opposing adoption of the chained CPI.
 
When the president and Congress promised the Social Security payroll tax “holiday” was only temporary two years ago, I said “who’s kidding whom?” There is no such thing as a temporary tax cut in Washington and Congress is proving that fact yet again. Diverting money from Social Security was a bad idea when it was first enacted in 2010, it was a bad idea when extended last year, and is still a bad idea now that this alleged “temporary holiday” has lasted two years.
 
Providing tax relief to middle class Americans has been important to our continued economic recovery. However, extending the payroll tax cut is not the only or even best way to accomplish this goal. Instead, we believe the “Making Work Pay” tax credit would do more to boost the economy. The payroll tax cut, coupled with general fund transfers to replace the lost revenue, leaves Social Security increasingly dependent on both general revenue and Congress for its funding. This is a dramatic and dangerous departure from relying on workers' contributions, which have so successfully funded the program since its inception in 1935. Extending the payroll tax cut another year threatens Social Security's financial integrity and makes it even more vulnerable to benefit cuts or privatization if Congress puts Social Security back on the table in 2013.
 
Between plans to divert revenue from Social Security and proposals to cut Social Security benefits it’s no wonder the middle-class has so little faith in Washington. Not only is diverting billions in Social Security contributions for a seemingly endless “tax holiday” not the best stimulus for middle-class workers; it’s also bad business for the program that current and future generations of middle-class Americans desperately need. Cutting middle-class benefits under the guise of a formula “tweak” hurts millions of veterans, seniors, people with disabilities and federal retirees. The American people understand this. Hopefully, Washington may also be coming around. 
 
Richtman is president and CEO of The National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare.

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux 

GIVE WORKERS A BREAK~TRADE UNIONS ! !

TAGGED UNDER:

Australia, autoworkers,  Brazil, labor,  Nissan,  UAW

Nissan Workers' Struggle to Organize Resonates Across the Globe

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Nov 28, 2012 Brian Finnegan |                                Organizing/Bargaining

Supported by global labor activists and unions, a Mississippi Nissan worker announced the UAW’s global organizing campaign yesterday at the third annual LabourStart conference in Sydney, Australia. At Nissan’s Canton, Miss., plant, there are more than 3,000 workers who want a voice at work to improve conditions and secure decent work for more members of their community. In addition to reducing safety problems and resulting injuries at the plant, workers want to unite to build power and raise their voice so that Nissan will directly hire more of its workforce and not depend so heavily on temporary workers. Nissan’s production model increasingly tries to avoid the responsibility of being an employer while reaping the gains of all production workers.

Check out UAW's site: http://DoBetterNissan.org. 

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“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." ! 

 Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

END THE BUSH TAX CUTS for the RICH NOW !

END THE BUSH TAX CUTS !

It's almost hard to believe after such a lopsided defeat in the election, but Republicans in Congress are pushing for a "fiscal deal" that would extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich and slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits before the end of the year—and they might win.

They've fabricated a story that, somehow, our economy will fall apart if they don't get what they want. It's not true, but negotiations are underway and a "deal" could come together at any time.

This is a crucial moment—before a deal emerges—when we need Congress to know where we stand. Can you call your members of Congress and tell them:

"Don't back any fiscal deal unless it lets the Bush tax cuts for the top 2% expire, as scheduled, on December 31 and doesn't cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits."

Here's where to call:

Senator Bob Corker
Phone: (202) 224-3344

Senator Lamar Alexander
Phone: (202) 224-4944

Representative Stephen Fincher
Phone: (202) 225-4714

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." ! Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 

 "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

ELECTRIC CARS ? You Bet`Cha !

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm

Former governor of Michigan; host, 'The War Room' on Current TV; columnist, Politico; faculty member, UC Berkeley

 

Electric Vehicle Naysayers: Get Over It, Support American Jobs

Posted: 11/27/2012 11:00 pm

When I was governor of Michigan, we worked with private companies and the legislature to apply for federal government stimulus grants to be the place where the electric car, and its guts, the battery, would be built. Amazingly, we received 12 grants worth $1.35 billion -- more than half of the total awarded nationally. For just the lithium-ion battery alone, we were able to attract 18 companies to the state to build the various parts, with a potential boost of 63,000 jobs. That's 63,000 jobs!

I know the only reason those jobs were even possible is because the federal government, led by our president, made a commitment to battery technology. But as we've heard, there are huge challenges facing the industry. If we don't get this right, we'll lose a lot of those high paying, advanced manufacturing jobs. Forever.

That's where the government can do even more, with policies to encourage demand. George W. Bush created a tax break for SUVs, we should extend the one we have for electric cars. We need tax credits for these early electric vehicles until the price of making an electric vehicle comes down to the price for making a regular internal combustion engine. Not a permanent commitment -- but a glide path to energy independence, to jobs, to national security, to reducing climate change.

Anti-Obama partisans and those who are beholden to the oil industry need to get over it: Get over the election. Get over it, Rush Limbaugh, and support American products and American jobs. Get over it, Neil Cavuto, and support the great American manufacturing sector. Quit aiding and abetting our economic competitors, and start and abetting our economic growth.
The progress in electric cars is a true American success story. Those who want General Motors or electric vehicles to fail are motivated by nothing but partisan politics. Come on, you naysayers. Let's innovate, and support the innovators -- yes through government policy. Let's manufacture, and support the manufacturers. Let's win the race for clean energy jobs, and support those job providers.

Those who know me know about my love affair with my Chevy Volt. And I take no small degree of pride knowing it was all built in America, at the hands of about 1,000 U.S. workers in Hamtramck, Michigan. Although it's a green product, it doesn't get any more red, white and blue than that.

Originally aired on "The War Room with Jennifer Granholm." "The War Room" airs weeknights onCurrent TV. Follow Jennifer Granholm on Facebook and Twitter, and "The War Room" onFacebook and Twitter.

 Gov. Jennifer M.  Granholm 

Corporate Greed...You Bet`Cha !

'Fix the Debt' CEOs Sit on Massive Retirement Funds While Pushing for Retirement Cuts for Working Families

Nov 27, 2012 Kenneth Quinnell | Corporate Greed

We have five weeks to tell Congress to let the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2% expire and reject any benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Visit www.aflcio.org/ProtectOurFuture for all the information you need on the upcoming budget showdown. 

A new report from the Institute for Policy Studies shows that the CEOs who make up the "Fix the Debt" campaign sit on massive retirement funds of their own while calling for the retirement programs that working families rely on to be cut as part of a deficit-reduction package. Furthermore, those same CEOs have been shortchanging pension funds for working families at the corporations they run.

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“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !  Adolph Hitler - 

May 2,1933

 "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Members of Congress & Medicare/Social Security Cuts !

CUT US, CUT YOURSELF !

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Members of Congress who vote for Social Security and Medicare cuts should not be allowed have privileged health insurance. Our representatives work for us; if they cut our benefits, they should not be allowed to have special insurance and perks. They should live off of Social Security like their constituents do.That's why I created a petition on SignOn.org which says:

We want members of Congress who vote to cut Social Security or Medicare to give up their privileged health insurance and pensions and survive on Social Security like their constituents do.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thanks for all you do,

Underdog = Don Jones

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." !  Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 

 

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

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Nov 27, 2012 Jackie Tortora | Political Action/Legislation

sh tax cuts for the richest 2% expire and reject any benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Visit www.aflcio.org/ProtectOurFuture for all the information you need on the upcoming budget showdown. 

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid aren't just numbers on a budget line, they're vital family protection lifelines for working people. 

Did you know 55.4 million Americans across the United States receive monthly Social Security checks, including 8.6 million workers with disabilities and 4.4 million children? A total of 48.7 million Americans get their health care coverage from Medicare and 64.4 million Americans get their health care coverage from Medicaid, including 29.8 million children and 4.2 million seniors.

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TENNESSEE NEWS FROM The HOUSE ! SECEDE ?

Contact Sean Braisted Telephone 615.741.1100 ext. 44424 Cell 615.200.8693 Email sean.braisted@capitol.tn.gov Website http://www.tnhdc.com

November 26, 2012

Chairman Turner calls on Legislators to Reject Secession

Chairman Mike Turner is asking that legislators reject the calls by some to secede from the union following the November elections

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On November 10, 2012 a petition was submitted to the White House calling for the State of Tennessee to be allowed to withdraw from the United States of America.

“As State Representatives we owe it to the men and women who died fighting to protect and preserve our union to speak out against this destructive movement,” said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner. “I am proud to be an American, and I hope my fellow legislators feel the same.”

The Tennessee Constitution states that all officers of the state shall “take an oath to support the Constitution of this state, and of the United States”. The Supreme Court in Texas v. White declared that secession was an unconstitutional act.

“We took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and I intend to uphold that oath,” said Turner. “If any Representatives join or have joined the call for secession, I intend to seek their removal from office.”

 If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Press Secretary Sean Braisted at 615.741.1100 ext. 44424 or email at sean.braisted@capitol.tn.gov.

"Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!
Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Fiat Lux

WAL-MART - PART TIME NIGHTMARE !

Alan Grayson

U.S. Congressman-elect for Florida's 9th District

My Thanksgiving: A Turkey Sandwich at Walmart

Posted: 11/24/2012 6:57 pm

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Wal-Mart , Walmart Black Friday , Walmart Black Friday Strike , Walmart Employees ,Walmart Strike , Walmart Unions , Business News

I did not spend Thanksgiving evening with my wife and my five children. I spent it, instead, handing out turkey sandwiches to workers in Walmart. And showing my support for one brave soul who walked off the job in protest against exploitation. 

Walmart "associates" make an average of just more than $10 an hour. That means that if they manage to get a full 40 hours a week -- and many don't -- they get paid $1,700 a month, before taxes. Somehow, that is supposed to pay for their food, shelter, clothing and medical care, and that of their children. Quite a trick. 

In state after state, the largest group of Medicaid recipients is Walmart employees. I'm sure that the same thing is true of food stamp recipients. Each Walmart "associate" costs the taxpayers an average of more than $1,000 in public assistance. 

How underpaid are Walmart employees ? This underpaid: if every one of them got a 30 percent raise, Walmart would still be profitable. 

Walmart employees in the United States are not unionized. Walmart has used every trick in the book to prevent its employees from organizing. In 2005, in Canada, Walmart closed a store that had voted to go union. Recently, in Orlando, Walmart fired an employee who had just talked about unionizing. When he came back into the store, many days afterward, to say hello to his former colleagues, they handcuffed him. 

It's time to do something about this. 

So on Thanksgiving, knowing that Walmart employees were missing dinner with their families, we walked into the local Walmart and handed out dinner to them. We gave them a paper bag that had three things in it: (a) a turkey sandwich, (b) a bag of chips, and (c) a letter explaining their right to organize. 

There were two points to this. One was to inform the workers of their rights. And the other was to demonstrate to them, vividly, that they are not alone. 

The Walmart manager had the police escort us out of the building. For handing out sandwiches. And for showing Walmart employees that they are not alone. 

One brave "associate," who had had enough of this mistreatment, walked out with us. Which is her right, under the law, to protest Walmart's unfair labor practices. In fact, a while back, 200 employees walked out of a Walmart store, all at the same time. That really shook up the bosses.

By the way, she made sure that she finished serving her customer before she left. She's that kind of person. WalMart actually could use a few more like her. 

I showed my support. I gave her a hug. 

And so it begins. Walmart accounts for more than 10 percent of all of the retail sales in the United States. It is the largest private employer in the world, with more than two million employees. And even though those employees comprise barely 10 percent of its cost of doing business, Walmart exploits them mercilessly. Now Walmart employees are starting to organize, starting to fight back. 

Who will win? I don't know. But I do know whose side I'm on. And I know that I'm not alone. 

Courage, 

Rep. Alan Grayson

“We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike." ! Adolph Hitler - May 2,1933

 "Democracy...is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch"!

Liberty...is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

 

MEDICARE = SOLUTION NOT PROBLEM !

Rising Health Care Costs: Medicare Is the Solution, Not the Problem

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Nov 25, 2012 Joe Baker Action/Legislation

This is a cross-post fromThe Huffington Post, by Joe Baker, president of theMedicare Rights Center.

Although Election Day is behind us, Medicare remains on working people's minds. Medicare ranked third to the economy and federal deficit as an issue of extreme importance in deciding how people voted. For months now, pundits, candidates and policymakers have wrestled one another about Medicare's future. Taking place at town hall meetings and on editorial pages, these battles were mostly waged in fiscal terms. Medicare's sustainability, the fiscal slope and the cost of insuring the Baby Boomers are hot topics for debate. Attention will now turn from the candidates' promises to their actual proposals.

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