http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83739.html?hp=f2
When Republicans speak fondly these days of tax reform in the 1980s, what’s never mentioned is that the capital gains rate ended up at 28 percent — nearly double what Mitt Romney has been paying and 8 points higher than what even President Barack Obama wants.It’s an important reminder for today’s Washington, so consumed with the top rates for upper-income households. Before any true tax reform, the first two big questions are what is the revenue target and what standard of progressivity will govern the revised code. Lowering rates is an understandable goal. Locking in those rates in advance puts the cart before the horse.House testimony in September by David Brockway, who was counsel to the Joint Tax Committee through the 1986 reform effort, drove home this point. If anything, the same pressures will be even greater on any reform effort now.After last week’s elections, does House Speaker John Boehner truly expect Obama to accept a reform framework that doesn’t improve on the equities of the current code? And what aggregate revenue target is Boehner willing to commit himself to in return for keeping in place the current Bush-era rates while lawmakers write a reform package over the coming year?The speaker’s office admits readily that neither question has been answered yet. Until that happens, all the Washington talk right now is chiefly that: talk.
so we're off and running again with with the horses still stuck in the starting gate, it all boils down to will they approve tax raising on the rich we all know it they are again holding "we the people" hostage for rich people and corp. favors, this is not about any BS beliefs it's about keeping the financial status quo.
Friday's White House meeting offers a fresh start — and one timed to allow Boehner to first secure his own nomination as the speaker in party meetings this week. But Obama will also have to show more give on the spending side of the ledger if he expects Boehner to steer reluctant Republicans toward a year-end deal.
are the same T=P elites still running the party, so they have had an epiphany and seen the error of their ways?
From his East Room appearance Friday, the president clearly feels he has the wind at his back. But as the past four years have proved, the real test of strength is not whether Obama can get his way but whether he has the self- confidence to give up something of his own to bring Republicans toward him.
why should "we the people" have to lose so the rich can win, there is no job creation just more money trickling up.
