Republican Rick Crawford To Propose Millionaire's Tax
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| Rep. Crawford shares his House voting card with 2011 Baxter Co. Republican Lincoln Day Dinner attendees. He criticized the Obama Agenda and supported the Cut, Cap, and Balanced agenda. Photo by Bill Smith, ARRA News Service |
Crawford did not make this announcement of a Millionaire's Tax before the 2012 primary filing date, and now benefits by not having an opponent in the Arkansas Republican primary. However, he will be opposed in the Nov. general election by one of three democrats running for his position. Beyond Crawford's reasons detailed in the following Politico article, conservatives in the first district will be expecting far more justification for a "conservative" freshman introducing increased tax legislation.
In 2010, candidate Crawford received substantial assistance via issue ads by independent organizations like American For Prosperity which addressed issues and the record of his opponent who had been on staff and then chief of staff for Democrat Rep. Marion Berry. Will Crawford's proposed tax increase silence support by 2012 conservative PACs, independent issue advertising, and district conservatives who supported his campaign in 2010. Most issue and limited government organizations know that millionaires are not the problem. Millionaires already pay the majority of income taxes and are a subject of class warfare attacks by the Obama administration. Obama and the liberal agenda are creating the economic problems.
The advocates for taxing the golden goose are Democrats. It now appears that there is one issue that Rick Crawford, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid can agree on - the need to tax the rich more. Crawford’s proposal right before the 2012 election had better yield a significant number of Democrat votes. Otherwise, Republican Congressman Crawford may be headed home in Jan 2013.
Politico's story follows.
By Jake Sherman, Politico: Freshman Republican Rep. Rick Crawford will propose a surtax on millionaires Thursday morning, a crack in the steadfast GOP opposition to extracting more money from the nation’s top earners.
The Arkansas Republican will unveil the plan during a local television interview Thursday morning, and plans to introduce legislation when the House returns next week, according to sources familiar with his thinking.
Crawford will propose the additional tax— expected to be north of 2.5 percent — on individual income over $1 million as part of a broader fiscal responsibility package.
“He’s watched the Gangs of Six and 100 and deficit commissions, as well as leadership’s budget and tax plan, and he feels there will never be a deal that will pass the Senate without a revenue component,” a Crawford aide said, describing the legislation without attribution because it has not yet been officially announced.
It’s a significant development in the multi-year Republican fight over the $15 trillion debt.
This freshman class was swept into D.C. on a wave of fiscal responsibility, which has given way to a slew of proposals to attempt to right the nation’s finances. Most notably, Republicans have slashed billions of dollars in government spending, proposed massive overhauls to social programs and morphed routine events like raising the nation’s debt ceiling and funding the government into cataclysmic, soul-searching fights.
But Republicans have always been resistant to raising government revenue through increased taxes. House Republican leaders have insisting that raising taxes on the nation’s top earners would stifle job creation and economic growth. They prefer to raise revenue through overhauling the tax code — they have constantly proposed lowering rates and broadening the base of taxpayers.
Increasing taxes — or imposing a surcharge — on the nation’s super-wealthy has long been the province of Democrats ranging from Senate leaders such as Harry Reid of Nevada to President Barack Obama. Republicans have privately scoffed at a surcharge, and its prospects are uncertain even in the Democratically controlled Senate.
Even when Republicans have said they would consider revenue, raising rates has always been off the table. Grover Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform, has been vocal in trying to keep Republicans away from hiking rates.
But Crawford’s plan signals a shift, and will certainly spark conversation on Capitol Hill among conservatives, who have been divided on many issues this year, but rarely on increasing taxes.
According to a source close to the Arkansan, the lawmaker “feels that if were going to make any progress in addressing the deficit and the debt eventually, then we need to find compromise.”
Tags: Rick Crawford, higher taxes, millionaires, surtax, class warfare, Arkansas, Republican, 1st District To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 8:25 PM - Post Link
32 Comments:
Is this for real?
[Via Liberty Roundtable]
I know many of his past supporters will be ringing his phone off the wall!!!
Yesterday, I reached a crossroads of conscious. Do I report on this situation? I could do no less based on a prior statements that it is the responsibility of conservatives to hold conservatives accountable once we elect them. In our household as are supporters of Rick Crawford, we were very disappointed to learn this about this when I received the alert from the Politico story. Note my comments at the beginning of the article. We are hoping that Rep. Crawford reverses his position.
Turns out he's a liberal progressive and BAD for Arkansas!
Shame on him!
Rick it's a mistake that will cost you!
David Crow and Joanne Filiatreau: Why are the Friends of the TEA Party in Arkansas members not posting comments? A call is going out to TEA Party members by Red State. I haven't posted it yet but Bill Penning has noted it at http://www.redstate.com/dhorowitz3/2012/03/14/calling-all-tea-partiers-in-rick-crawfords-northeastern-arkansas-district/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Speaking the truth even when it hurts; Why is a conservative AR Rep introducing a class-warfare tax?
Yah, that would really be good for jobs. They are already paying half or more of what they make in taxes. What is so wrong with GOVERNMENT getting smaller and giving up the need for so much dough.
He needs a large Carbon Footprint emplaced upon his derriere. We don't need no more class warfare. The Dimmicraps give us more than we need.
He was a TP candidate, I believe.
That is a good example of the problems with the Tea Party then. The progressives will slip in Rhinos at every opportunity!!
Crawford has shown us his true colors. We need to make examples of these type of people. Even if he withdraws this agenda, he should be made a one-term Congressman.
Open Letter to Congressman Crawford of Arkansas:
Congressman Crawford:
With due respect, I strongly object to you supporting class warfare with a surtax on millionaires. Such an action destroys the ability of job creators to create jobs. Crony capitalists will offer to pay you or others to carve out special exemptions for them, through their lobbyists.
If the reason why you are doing this dastardly deed is to increase revenue, then support the Fair Tax with the prebate.
The Fair Tax, with prebate plan, takes care of the poor and taxes the gigantic black market economy plus the crony capitalists. These two revenue sources by themselves will almost balance the budget if spending is also reigned in.
Please, sir, let me know that you have rescinded this objectionable decision. We all get persuaded to do things for good causes by people with evil intentions.
Failure on your part to rescind this action, will result in me campaigning to replace you in the House of Representatives.
I am Chairman of the Conservative Party of Arkansas which is rapidly growing. We support conservatives in either major party and in 2014, we will run candidates in races where neither the Democrat or Republican is a conservative.
Republicans who behave like liberals will be opposed with all of our might. Our memberships are comprised of Conservative Independents and conservatives from both the Democratic and Republican Parties, as well as the Tea Parties.
Please withdraw this legislation promptly!
Ron Bartels, Ph.D.
Chairman, Conservative Party of Arkansas
He is not serious? Cannot go with him on that!
Representative Rick Crawford 1st District
1308 Longworth
House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515-0403
202-225-4076 FAX: 202-225-5602
Done, I told them this WILL HURT HIM!!!!
I was one who campaigned hard for him, pushed his candidacy before most ever heard of him. If he goes through with this, I'll not support him. The only reason I can see that he would turn his back on those of us who got him elected is to pander to the old Berry voters. I'll be totally disgusted and feel completely betrayed if he does this. And I will have lost any and all faith in our ability to effect change within our political system. If he does this, I'll be convinced that he has become drunk with the power of his office and sacrificed his principles for the prospect of becoming a permanent fixture with ever-increasing power in Washington. If you read this Rick or Jonah, this is the absolute worst decision you could make. If you do this, I'll never cast another vote for you again.
Is it possible to find SOMEONE,that doesn't feel the need the flex their liberal sympathies as soon as they hit government office? Or will we finally just boot them without the need to hear excuses first.
I know Rick and can't believe this...seems there is a door you walk through to get to Congress that instantly makes you want to punish success and punish those who create opportunity...is there a party change coming here?
Is the victim of the GOP squeeze / play ball game for a high committee position?
Where is integrity in this squeeze play?
Folks were told Crawford was a liberal and refused to listen.
Barbara, if he continues with this bill, we just call him history!!
Feel like we've all been stabbed in the back.
Barbara Gordon Told by whom and when. Also, as the results showed, Princella got in the race too late to mount a meaningful District wide campaign. And the Dems had an established liberal.
Barbara Gordon Told by whom and when. Also, as the results showed, Princella got in the race too late to mount a meaningful District wide campaign. And the Dems had an established liberal.
I understand John Allison's feelings completely. We both work together to defeat both Sen. Blanche Lincoln and to elect Rick Crawford especially by going after his Democrat opponent. We already had the then Boot Berry (now Boot Berryism) site before Crawford came along as well our sites and we both live in the 1st District. Fortunately, we both know not to place our trust in horses and chariots (or politicians) but in Him who has the power over eternal life and death.
Couldn't have said that better myself Bill Smith. Christ is in control. That's certain.
Sir:
I am a rock hard conservative, opposed to tax increases, but realize a smart
political move when I see it. The proposal by Rick Crawford is one of the smartest political moves I have seen in a long time. Will Democrats accept it? Of course
not. But as a political tool to use against Democrats in the election it is great.
Of course there are some purist conservatives who had rather go down fighting than use a little innovation to win re-election.
People should pay for what they use. Do millionaire's use more government services?
Rick I would say you assured your defeat if not this year next, because you turned your back on the people who sent up there. go figure!
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