Dems: Not So Fast With Obama Tax Plan

Democrats Are Expressing ‘Reservations About President Obama’s Tax Plan,’ Say It’s Not ‘The One That Will End Up Passing Congress’

‘There’s Too Much Discussion About Raising Taxes Right Now’
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “Sen. Schumer Expresses Reservations About President Obama’s Tax Plan … Schumer said the $250,000 limit is unacceptable since it will hit the metropolitan area disproportionately because of the high cost of living here. ‘$250,000 makes you really rich in Mississippi but it doesn’t make you rich at all in New York and there ought to be some kind of scale based on the cost of living on how much you pay,’Schumer said.” (“Sen. Schumer Expresses Reservations About President Obama’s Tax Plan,” CBS New York, 9/19/11)

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (ID-CT): “I wouldn't do anything to raise taxes in the foreseeable future because that'll stifle the recovery.”(Sean Hannity Radio Show, 9/20/11)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “…a key moderate who’s up for reelection next year, didn’t mince words: ‘There’s too much discussion about raising taxes right now, not enough focus on cutting spending.’” (“Moderate Dems Duck, Cover On Hikes,” Politico, 9/19/11)

SEN. JON TESTER (D-MT): “This plan isn’t the one I would have written, nor is it the one that will end up passing Congress.” (“Moderate Dems Duck, Cover On Hikes,” Politico, 9/19/11)

SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MD): “…who is up for reelection next year… had one bone to pick: He doesn’t like Obama’s proposal requiring federal workers to contribute more to their pension plans.” (“Moderate Dems Duck, Cover On Hikes,” Politico, 9/19/11)

“Manchin undecided” (@StevenTDennis, Twitter, 9/19/11)

SEN. KENT CONRAD (D-ND): “…said it’s ‘unfortunate’ the plan slices so deeply into agriculture programs that are dear to his state. Cutting $33 billion from farm subsidies and programs will harm Congress’ efforts to develop an effective farm bill next year, Conrad said.” (“Moderate Dems Duck, Cover On Hikes,” Politico, 9/19/11)


On The New Stimulus Plan: ‘None Of Us Agree With Every Part Of It’
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “None of us agree with every part of it.” (Sen. Reid, Press Briefing, 9/20/11)

SEN. BOB CASEY (D-PA): “I think the American people are very skeptical of big pieces of legislation … For that reason alone I think we should break it up.” “‘I think the American people are very skeptical of big pieces of legislation,’ said Senator Robert Casey, Democrat from Pennsylvania, in an interview Wednesday, joining a growing chorus of Democrats who prefer an a la carte version of the bill despite White House resistance to that approach. ‘For that reason alone I think we should break it up.’” (“Some Democrats Are Balking At Obama’s Jobs Bill,” The New York Times, 9/14/11)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “I have said for months that I am not supporting a repeal of tax cuts for the oil industry unless there are other industries that contribute…” (“Some Democrats Are Balking At Obama’s Jobs Bill,” The New York Times, 9/14/11)

LANDRIEU: “That offset is not going to fly.” ‘That offset is not going to fly, and he should know that,’ said Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu from the energy-producing Louisiana, referring to Obama’s elimination of oil and gas subsidies. ‘Maybe it’s just for his election, which I hope isn’t the case.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet with the president's jobs bill.” “‘I don't know exactly what I'm going to do yet with the president's jobs bill, but we're going to have a full caucus meeting on it on Thurs,’ Reid told reporters, saying merely that he had introduced the bill Tuesday. A number of Democrats have previously opposed some of the ideas in the bill.” (“Reid Not Sure if Obama's Jobs Bill Can Pass,” Fox News, 9/13/11)

SEN. JIM WEBB (D-VA): “'Terrible.' Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) told POLITICO when asked about the president’s ideas for how to pay for the $450 billion price tag. ‘We shouldn’t increase taxes on ordinary income. … There are other ways to get there.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “Frustrating … There’s an unfairness to it.” “Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, from the oil-rich state of Alaska, said it was ‘frustrating’ to see the president single out the oil industry after calling on the congressional supercommittee in last week’s address to Congress to find savings. ‘When you start singling out certain industries, there’s an unfairness to it,’ he said in an interview. ‘On the pay-fors, I have a problem.’” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): “I have serious questions about the level of spending that President Obama has proposed, as well as the actual effectiveness some of these policies will have when it comes to creating jobs…” (“Manchin’s Strategy For Surviving 2012 In A Red State: Bash President Obama,” The Hill, 9/14/11)

SEN. BARBARA MIKULSKI (D-MD): “I disagree with the president.” “Senator Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat whose state includes some of the wealthiest counties in the U.S., said she didn't support the health-care tax. ‘I disagree with the president,’ she said.” (“Obama Plan To Tax Health Benefits Stirs Democratic Opposition,” Bloomberg, 9/14/11)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): “I don’t think anybody expects it to pass en bloc.” “‘I don’t think anybody expects it to pass en bloc,’ Kerry told reporters Tuesday afternoon after the Senate Democrats’ weekly policy luncheon. ‘So, the issue is going to be what, if any, parts of it might be cherry-picked. And really that depends a lot on the overall mix of the negotiation.’” (“Obama Jobs Proposal Won’t Pass In One Piece, Kerry Says,” Washington Post, 9/13/11)

SEN. TOM CARPER (D-DE): “I think the best jobs bill that can be passed is a comprehensive long-term deficit-reduction plan… That’s better than everything else the president is talking about — combined.” (“Hill Dems Pick Apart Obama Jobs Plan,” Politico, 9/14/11)

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