Here's my further comments - the Democrats have proven just how weasely they can be. They have tossed the baby under the bus on the issue of a minimum wage increase because they just can't possibly admit that the death tax is a bad idea.

They know they've demagogued that issue (the death tax) to virtual death, and have sold the public on the idea that the only people that it really affects are the wealthy. Thanks to that class warfare they can claim to be protecting the government coffers in taking in a few million dollars in revenues that somehow escaped from the tax shelters (or never made it into them) that most of the super wealthy have hidden their money in.

Rather than letting the working poor enjoy the benefits of a higher wage, which by the way would lead to increased tax revenue coming back into the government coffers as people that are paid those wages earn more and are taxed on the higher income or are taxed on the purchases they make with their increased earning power, the Democrats would rather try to hold onto a political issue and keep a potential victory away from the Republicans.

Will the public see through it all and realize just how disgusting the political games the Democrats are playing are? I doubt it. As usual the Democratic talking points will continue to say they are *for* an increase in the minimum wage and Republicans aren't for one, even though in this just (failed to pass) taken vote in the U.S. Senate they were absolutely NOT for an increase in the minimum wage.

I hope that the GOP media machine is ready to put out new ads that will educate the public about this vote, including pictures and comments from the "poor" teachers, students and businessmen/women that were losers here. Perhaps the GOP can gain a few voters in the next election at the expense of the hypocrites in the Democrat party.

Isn't the nature of compromise supposed to be that I get something, while giving something I didn't want to, and vice-versa. Compromise is exactly what this bill sounded like...

#3 by Demosthenes Locke Fri, August 04, 2006 11:45 AM

Took the words right out of my mouth, well more or less. This is a group of people who's modo is "it's better to recieve than give". I say group of people because technically I would expect both parties to only want to egt what's good for them without giving anything in return. But in this case to actually go back on what they believe in just to not give a little to the Reps, now that is just plain wrong.

I'm sorry but the republicans were the ones playing politics with this. What reason is there to tie these two pieces of legislation together. It's funny how congress managed to pass raises for themselves without tying it to another issue.

You see the difference is that minimum wage workers don't have money for lobbyist and pacs, that's why it's been ten years since there's been a minimum wage increase.

The republican's succeeded in their goal which was to make the Democrats look bad for voting against a minimum wage bill.

We really need to cut those millionaires a break though. It's tough out there for a millionaire. What's wrong with those Democrats not giving another tax cut to the wealthy when we have a record deficit? Yep, it's their faults.

It is a death tax specifically for millionaires.

It would also exempt $5 million of an individual's estate, and $10 million of a couple's, from estate taxes by 2015. Estates worth up to $25 million would be taxed at capital gains rates, currently 15 percent and scheduled to rise to 20 percent. Tax rates on the remainder of larger estates would fall to 30 percent by 2015.

Not exactly for the common working folk is it? Common working folks don't get Republicans re-elected.

It is a death tax specifically for millionaires.

No, it is a death tax for farmers. Land rich and cash poor. Have you ever wondered why there are so few farmers these days?

And another thing. Why should anyone who thinks we are enslaving the low income people care about a death tax? The elimination would not give them more money (indeed, it would only deprive the government of money).

So Again, why would a minimum wage proponent care? They are getting what they want, with a rider (SOP BTW) that would not hurt the beneficiaries of the legislation?

Why?

So Loca, you have no problems at all passing a bill that grants a right to more abortions provided that some pet project on the other side is given a free ride too, right?

No - not even close and that has nothing to do with this.

No, it is a death tax for farmers. Land rich and cash poor. Have you ever wondered why there are so few farmers these days?

It would benefit the top .3% of households. That is the super wealthy not 3% - .3%. They call it the Paris Hilton tax. I didn't know that farmers were that wealthy that they would be in the top point three percent of households in the us.

As to who played politics, you seemed to again miss my point -- and the facts -- that the death tax brings in such a small amount of money (if any) from those that your side wants to aim at it -- "the rich"

$267.6 billion in death tax relief - yep that's peanuts.

Democrats are cold, heartless, cruel and callous individuals that don't give a whit about their constitutents.

Nope that would be the republicans who only care about big business and the wealthy.

It would benefit the top .3% of households. That is the super wealthy not 3% - .3%. They call it the Paris Hilton tax. I didn't know that farmers were that wealthy that they would be in the top point three percent of households in the us.

You still just don't get it. It would eliminate the tax for everyone who's estates inherited are under that $5 million mark. That's the majority of people, including farmers. You're so focused on the fact that it reduces the tax for those top people that you fail to see how much benefit it gives to the lower ones.

It's interesting, but not at all surprising that you failed to mention the amendment that Kennedy introduced in the Senate in March to increase the minimum wage. An amendment that only 4 Republicans voted for and that not one Democrat voted against.

It is interesting you did not mention the Stoop Jackson amendment.  It actually has more relevance.

No, you are wrong again. Did you see what Bill Gates and Warren Buffet did? This will not affect them.

Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Ted Turner, George Soros and 1,100 other millionaires do not want the death tax repealed. They are part of a coalition called Responsible Wealth.

You still just don't get it. It would eliminate the tax for everyone who's estates inherited are under that $5 million mark. That's the majority of people, including farmers. You're so focused on the fact that it reduces the tax for those top people that you fail to see how much benefit it gives to the lower ones

Okay Mason, you convinced me. I am all for the break for small business owners and family farms but not for the super duper billionaires. I did look at many sites before I found one that actually mentioned the small business owners and family farms.

If passed as it was currently. The deficit would increase and at some point the government is going to have to cut services for people. Charitable gifts would decrease if there was no benefit in estate planning as their is now.

Will the public see through it all and realize just how disgusting the political games the Democrats are playing are? I doubt it. As usual the Democratic talking points will continue to say they are *for* an increase in the minimum wage and Republicans aren't for one, even though in this just (failed to pass) taken vote in the U.S. Senate they were absolutely NOT for an increase in the minimum wage. It's interesting, but not at all surprising that you failed to mention the amendment that Kennedy introduced in the Senate in March to increase the minimum wage. An amendment that only 4 Republicans voted for and that not one Democrat voted against. Link

Now why don't you give them the "real reason" it was voted down? Because "Chucky Schumer" (D) added junk to the bill that was unacceptable. Go here and find out the rest of the missing info.
Link

Thanks for making my point for me. Do you happen to have a valid link?

The link "is" valid. You just have to use your braincells and re-initiate the search.

Yep a lot of family farms wind up being sold because the kids can't afford to pay the inherentance taxes.