To Extend Or Not To Extend . . .

. . . Tax Cuts. That is the question. Here is how our favorite cartoonist William Warren sees it:

Here is how Jonathan Allen in Politico sees the latest back and forth in the US House on taxes: House Republicans want a straight vote on whether Congress should extend expiring income tax rates for all earners or just those in the lower and middle tiers, according to a letter sent to House Rules Committee Chairwoman Louise Slaughter Monday afternoon.

The tax fight has cut across party lines, with most Republicans and a handful of Democrats advocating for an extension of the lower rates for everyone as Democratic leaders in the White House and Congress insist on allowing the rates for households that make more than $250,000 per couple to increase to pre-2001 levels.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) touched off an intense back-and-forth Sunday by saying on CBS' Face the Nation that he would vote to extend the rates for lower- and middle-income brackets only if Democratic leaders forced him to vote on a bill that would cut taxes for those groups but not folks who make more money. Though he also noted that he would work to ensure that the rates for every bracket would be held harmless, Democrats seized on what appeared to be equivocation on GOP orthodoxy.

Now GOP Rules members say the House should have the opportunity to work its will on which rates will be extended. They wrote to Slaughter Monday asking that "the Rules Committee provide for as open and free-flowing debate as possible when the legislation to extend the current tax rates reaches the floor."

In other words, they want a chance to vote for an extension of the rates for all income brackets — even if Democratic leaders prefer to bring a bill to the floor that would result in upper-income taxpayers getting a rate hike. It's not just Republicans who want to avert an increase for wealthier taxpayers. A group of House moderates is circulating a letter asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to find a solution that provides for at least a temporary extension of the current rates for all income levels. They plan to deliver their letter Tuesday.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has argued behind closed doors for a short-term fix and told Bloomberg News that he would be open to negotiating for a temporary extension for upper income brackets if Republicans would agree to making the middle and lower tiers permanent. Some Democrats in competitive districts worry that they will be attacked for raising taxes if they hold the rates steady for couples who make less than $250,000 but let them expire for those who earn more.

Citing bipartisan concerns, Republican Rules Committee members say they deserve a chance to amend whatever legislation House Democratic leaders bring to the floor. "Our economy is suffering from uncertainty. The Congress will have to act on this critical issue. It's our hope that when it does, the Rules Committee will allow the American people to see a full-fledged debate that considers all policy positions seeking to lower the tax burden for all Americans and getting our economy back on track," Reps. David Dreier (CA), Pete Sessions (TX), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL) and Virginia Foxx (NC) wrote to Slaughter (D-NY).

Tax bills seldom, if ever, come to the House floor under "open" rules, which allow for unlimited amendments. But a rule for consideration of a tax bill could provide for a small number of carefully drafted amendments. And the debate appears almost entirely hypothetical at this point, because Senate Democratic leaders probably don't have the votes to approve a partial extension for just low- and middle-income workers.

Republicans say they are frustrated with President Barack Obama and congressional Democratic leaders who are fighting to let the top rates expire. "When it comes to the economy this administration is always about winners vs losers. They could not stand to do anything that allowed every one to benefit - it might create jobs," said Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA).

Slaughter spokesman Vince Morris said the Rules Committee will go through its normal process . . .

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