Payroll Tax Showdown: What It Means to You

More of the same from the clowns on the hill. This bill had everything that Boehner wanted and he called it good until Eric Cantor told him to call it bad. The house is simply full of crazies. The interesting thing is I agree that 2 months is ridiculous and the Senate should be ashamed to deliver something so paltry. However, that said 2 months is better than no months. The whole picture looks like just another Republican ploy. Really tired of them all, each and every one should be kicked out and we start over.

Bill | December 20, 2011, 6:29 am —– The Senate has the bill that extends it for a year and Reid won’t vote on it. Bich at Reid not Boehner. You know 2 months is completely silly and is a political move to keep this in th forefront for the duration of the campaign. This will keep Obama’s dismal record oout of the forefront. Reid has over 20 bills passed by the House and he will not vote on them. The 1 year bill passed with bipartisan support, but Reid won’t have it any other way than his. Geez, you don’t see that?

If it took 3 long grueling years to investigate, what’s another couple months so the actual legislation can be read verrrrrrrrry carefully before signing away? It should be in a stand alone bill. We all know that nothing is free. It’s going to cost money somewhere down the line. To assume that TransCanada is going to pay for everything is naive. And we all know what ASSUME means.

Harry Reid the dim bulb obstructionist running the Flee Party.

Im Trying To Figure Out If You All Are Dumb, Or Blind, Or Just Plain Raciest. You All Say President Obama Is not A Good Leader Because White Men Want Follow Him =(DUMB) White Men Have Never Followed A Black Man Willingly. =(BLIND) White Men Would Rather Burn The House Down Than Let A Black Man Live in it And Become Successful. = (RACIEST) Yes I Said it!!!

Most if not all of the oil is going to Asia, so why does it need to go through the U.S.? I could see it going through the U.S. if we were going to use it, but no. Obama needs to make an emergency tax on the super wealthy as well as corporations that are hoarding revenues overseas and here to make life lousy for the middle class and there by taking back the senate and white house. Will not work, and why they keep electing these big shot republican’s that take their marching orders from the Koch brothers, these two clowns are not Americans they only have markets, and soon like North Korea will have to put up with the Koch brother kids, even more spoiled and greedy than their fathers.

1) NO pipeline for a toxic chemical that is passing through HUGE water reserves should EVER be pushed through before due diligence is done to ensure safety. But in general, pipelines are a VERY BAD idea. Just look into how many WATER leaks there are in your city water pipelines. I bet hundreds if not thousands. Leaking pipes is just the cost of doing business for transporting liquid, and when the liquid is water, no big deal, except for sink holes which do happen. But….to transport a toxic chemical, that much of it???? THICK HEAVY toxic liquid? Stupid, is the only word you can use to describe it. What should happen is a refinery closer to where the oil is harvested, then drive the oil in trucks. NEVER let a pipeline for toxic liquid go near a water supply. VERY BAD idea. short sighted, stupid. Which is why republicans are pushing for it. Oil companies, who made 200 billion last year in profit, want a cheap leaky pipeline not a refinery to be built, and southerners want the oil transported down to THEM, so it will then be shipped back north to heat homes. The oil will be MORE expensive that way, but hey, then oil companies can charge more for it. DO tell me, why are republicans always on the wrong side of every issue????? Do they EVER do what is BEST instead of what oil companies want?

Republicans will pay for this. Obama’s approval ratings are going to go up up up. Just get out the facts about the pipeline, and how there should be a refinery instead and just explain clearly, WHY republicans are pushing for a pipeline rather then refining it near the great lakes and keeping it not only close to where it was harvested, but also closer to where it will be used? Why pipe it down to Texas, only to drive it up back up north again??? That’s so dumb. makes no sense. Will make the oil cost more to spend so much on transportation and maintaining a pipeline which can rupture and cause huge problems. I’m not seeing one benefit of this hair brained idea.

Why ship oil to texas just to refine it?—well, that’s it, isn’t it? This is about the GOP being beholden to texas oil money. This isn’t good for the US. This is good for rich oil men in texas, the ones who own, lock stock and barrel, the republican party. A pipeline is NOT good for the US, but the republicans DO NOT represent what is good for the US, they represent about 20 rich oil guys who want the oil to be sent to Texas to line their pockets.

The pipeline deal benefits Big Oil and TransCanada. THAT is why the Republicans are pushing so hard for the president to OK it. The refined product will leave the Gulf and go out onto the world market, just like all the other refined product that leaves the Gulf. It won’t go from Canada to the Gulf to your corner gas station. TransCanada itself said, in their paperwork filing with the government, they expected to create between 3500 and 4200 construction jobs. And there was no guarantee that they would only hire US workers. The pipeline would generate $5 billion in tax revenue for the states it goes through – over a ONE HUNDRED YEAR time frame. Why doesn’t TransCanada utilize one of the dozen oil refineries that are in Canada? Why pipe the oil 1700 miles south? Why doesn’t Canada want to keep all of this ‘in house’? It would certainly be cheaper and easier and closer to the tar sands fields. What do THEY know about this that we don’t? If the Republicans are all gung-ho about something like this, you can bet your last dollar that some corporation will reap huge financial benefits from it, and the American people……..won’t.

House Republicans fought against a very important piece of legislation for all Americans: Roughly ONE THOUSAND dollars in the pockets of working people + a continued boost to our slowly healing economy. Extending unemployment insurance benefits for a year until new jobs open up. And putting off the cuts in payments to doctors serving Medicare patients for a year.

It’s crystal clear where House Republican loyalties lie. Not the “jobs” they talked about. Not fiscal conservatism. All this crap about no new taxes means ONLY on the wealthy, not you and me.

The Republican Party has turned into a malignancy. In November 2012, all the Republicans in the House are up for election. Replace them with hard working representation, those who are willing to compromise for the benefit or the country, not just serve the interests of wealthy campaign contributors.

Does anybody have the combination to the safe where the lobbyists locked away the pledgebots’ brains? We need to jailbreak these dudes before they take more hostages.

It doesn’t look like we’re going to find that combination any time soon though. Maybe it’s time for a constitutional amendment banning all lobbyists and payments from government. That might do the trick.

Sacred trust fund, Senior retirement money, the always popular lock box.
That is what this means to me. We now all know the above phrases have never applied to social security. That makes Al Gore and all the Democrats a bunch of liars!
We are now going to take money that would fund Social Security and pass it out
for votes. That is what is being done and if you cannot see that, well your blind.
Money that your Parents and Grandparents and even yourself have been told time
and again that it would be there for your retirement. We are around 15 trillion
dollars in debt now and if your 45 or under all this vote buying money is going to
do for you is make your retirement age go up to 75. Both party’s know better
but it is election time, anything for a vote. Besides their pensions are never touched.
Wake up America you are being played.

What it means, about $20-$30 a paycheck on one hand, Which will go right back out as fees on a Fannie or Freddie Mortgage. The government gives and the government takes away.

ban all lobbyists…….but…but…. how would Newt make his 100 million a year??????

1) I think a pipeline, rather than a new refinery, is a colossally stupid idea. I’d MUCH rather see the jobs toward building a refinery somewhere on the great lakes, and then truck the oil rather then endanger the entire midwest water supply just to benefit texas refineries 2) this is goign to cost me about $2K a year 3) quick! Who is running for congress as a republican???? I’m going to vote them OUT!

Giving [the middle class] more money to spend for one year does not impact at all the type of productive activities that promote economic growth like saving and investing–uh, yeah it does. I would have spent that $2k on a vacation, or something. And collectively, all 270 million Americans would be spending that money on goods, services, vacations, home repairs which benefits the economy MUCH MORE than 100 or less people getting tax cuts and investing that money in new out sourcing enterprises in China.

THEY PERSIST IN CALLING IT A “TAX INCREASE”… WHICH IT ISN’T !….AND

….. THE $1000 IS FOR PEOPLE WITH $50000 ANNUAL INCOME!…It is a 2% CONTRIBUTION INTO YOUR PERSONAL SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT that you have had a holiday from. IT NEEDS TO BE PAID!…. 2% for someone making $300 a week is $6 or $72 a year…NOT $1000.

Hear that 99%. You are WORTHLESS to the Republicans. It’s time to change that BIG TIME. It’s time to show the Republicans YOUR TRUE VALUE at the voting booth. Kick their collective arses to those off shore accounts permanently. They’ve run this country to the ground long enough.

THEY PERSIST IN CALLING IT A “TAX INCREASE”… WHICH IT ISN’T !———————yeah. sell it to the birds. Fact – I’m paying $2000 more next year to taxes. Fact- I would have used that to take a vacation, hotel, restaurants, activities in the local area. now, i’m not. That money that economy would have had from me is not going to happen. Multiply that by the other few hundred thousand people who had plans for that money. Or…should we give the same money to a few people who use it to invest in china. gee, who do you think stimulates teh economy more, eh????? when Obama’s stimulus was in full effect, the GDP rose by 6.5%. fact. when it dried up, the GDP rose 2%. Tax cuts for the rich remained in the effect the ENTIRE time, even when the GDP shrank 6.5% while it was free falling while bush was in.

Has anybody figured out who bought Boehner off on this pipe line? Since we’re talking a Canadian company and risking our Mid West I’m not getting who in the US stands to gain so much from this.

Everyone is for long term tax cuts and everyone else knows it. this move is to allow breathing room to deal with riders. that’s why house repubs are making enemies in their own party. Now the house is standing there looking stupid and childish for playing games while the senate is enjoying a nationally recognized holiday.

The unions want this pipeline.

Well we all know the right hates the unions Kathy. Try again.

The unions want this pipeline.—-fiction. There is nothing, not a thing, that says one union job would be created by this. how you’re butt? Must be a bit sore after pulling such a big one out of it.

Tax cut or not tax cut, pushing forward a pipeline plan ticks me off. No reason, not one good reason, to use a pipeline over other ideas. Republicans are so bought and sold by big oil it’s disgusting.

You can almost see Boehner’s strings in this photo.

Specialty the unions got a bit more time to wait until the next contracts to come into “Obamacare.” If you guys are so right about the way things need to be you would not always fudge on the facts like you do for a sport.

MARY: “am I reading that right? After the amount of $106,800 the remainder is payroll tax free?” – - – Yes, that is correct. Income above that level is excempt from the payroll tax. Pretty sweet deal for people who earn more than that, isn’t it. It is an especially sweet deal since people who earned more than that can collect SS as long as they are not earning more than that while they collect (that amount is close to the 3:1 rule). The upper income limit should extend up to at least 250K. I doubt that many people who routinely earned that much during a significant part of their life ever collect SS.

Marsha, what other ideas? Reid, Obams biggest problem, has no ideas and does not like anybody else’s. Obama said one year, Boehner said one year, so if you have a problem with that and forbid you go against Obam, take it up with Reid. He is the real problem.

LEXINGTONLADY: “The remainder is free of SS tax. Social security was set up to be a retirement savings. Not a tax where the wealthy pay for the less wealthy to have retirement. Once you reach this ceiling you’re paying money you can never get back.” – - – WRONG WRONG WRONG. You have a profound misunderstanding of SS. SS DOES NOT create a SS account people pay into and then get back when they retire. SS is a pay as you go system in which current workers pay for the current retirerees. There are no “retirement savings” under SS.

The economy shows signs of improving, the Republicans are not happy because it might make the president look good. So, they are at it again being obstructionists

I think a year tax cut on payroll the Reps want is a whole lot better than what Reid wants 2 months. I just do not get it. The poor and unions believe the crude coming out of Reids and Pelosi’s mouths.

B K —WRONG WRONG WRONG. You have a profound misunderstanding of SS. SS DOES NOT create a SS account people pay into and then get back when they retire. SS is a pay as you go system in which current workers pay for the current retirerees. There are no “retirement savings” under SS”— B K ! You and I actually seem to agree on something here.. Except that I would like to add something for Lexington Lady and a bunch of others on here.. Please understand that aSocial security WAS NOT INTENDED to be a RETIREMENT fund. SSI stand for social security INSURANCE.. You are paying insurance premiums to the government to INSURE that when you become too OLD or unable to physically work any longer, teh government will pay you a monthly check to prevent you and your family from becoming desolate.. IT WAS NEVER intended to be a “retirement”.. just a safety net.. the fact that SOOOO many Americans use it not only as a retirement, but as their ONLY retirement, is why it is going bankrupt.. NO one wants to accept the fact that in order for SSI to continue, maor changes MUST be made, the minimum age should go to 75, ( in line with current life expectancies) and partial benefits for thiose younger than 67 who can still work should be DROPPED…. Again,, this is NOT A RETIREMENT, and Americans’ use of it as a retirement is why its on the verge of collapse…

I am so glad to see how many want this tax cut, from the money that would go to
social security. How 1% of you. We forget that this money was for our grandparents or parents many of whom have this as their only source of income. But in the always me
generation, look out for number one. How Democratic of you. Social security was conceived as a safety net for the elderly, and now these so called public servants are
turning it into a buy votes slush fund. Remember this when your ready to retire,
the retirement age is being kicked a little further down the road and most of
you are agreeing to it.

Trying to transport 200K barrals of oil per day by truck is not only cost prohibitive, but it is also far MORE dangerous to the economy than the pipeline is… What are the chances that one of those trucks might have an accident —-LOL!!! oh yeah. that’s a real safety concern, trucks carrying oil having accidents. I cannot recall ONE accident with a truck carrying oil and if it does happen, the oil spills on a roadway NOT a major water supply. and pipes leak ALL THE TIME!!!! ALL THE TIME! Talk to your public works company about that one. Our reservoir association estimated 200 leaks in our pipes right now. Leaky pipes are a part of doing business. WHen it’s water leaking, no big deal. but oil???????

Trying to transport 200K barrals of oil per day by truck is not only cost prohibitive, —Hey Einstien, you do realize, after the oil is refined in Texas it IS transported by trucks back up north ,right????? this is a pipeline to bring unrefined oil all the way across the country to texas to be refined. From there, IT IS trucked across the US. By having it refined up north, where it eventually ends up anyway, you CUT DOWN on it’s transportation mileage AND you therefore, cut down on its cost.

Let them build the refinery in Canada. Knowing Canada they don’t want the pollution. They would rather we risk our largest fresh water source for this. The US gets squat out of this for the risk.

Arkie Vet: SSDI is one humongous problem with the SS system. And I mean alcoholics, drug addicts and morbidly obese people who refuse to get help allowing them to be declared permanently disabled. These conditions are not permanent disabilities. This would be the first adjustment I would make. Give them a limited amount of time to clean up their act and if they don’t then they’re on their own. I’ve seen 20 and 30 year olds collecting SSDI and I know darned well they haven’t paid a whole lot in. Get these brats first before you start on the old timers.

ArkieVet – How old are you? People 75 have a hard time. There is no way my sister can last at the factory till that age. Funny, those telling you this funds problems are your fault stole the money and get retirement bennies that are absurd compared to this. When this was set up it was for all of the people. It was never set up for only the poor. Ever. Therefore anybody drawing had a right to expect to draw. It is not the citizens fault we have this mess. The lawmakers took the money. It was adjusted in the 80′s and they took the money. It amazes me how they convince so many of you that you need to suffer more when they created the problem.

just trying to be sure it’s safe enough.—you can never insure aging pipes are not leaking. Some ideas are just bad from the start. And when they fail, you look back and think, why didn’t we think of that??????? We did. We are. There is a better way. how about republicans actually try to do something well for a change.

LexingtonLady The lawmakers took the money. It was adjusted in the 80′s and they took the money.=====Actually it was “adjusted” earlier. Lyndon Johnson “adjusted ” SS at the end of his term. Every President after that continued Johnson’s adjustment policy.

This has nothing to do with building a refinery.— of course it does. The decisions of republicans seems to be ‘build a pipeline’ without any thought, why???? is that the best solution? Seems a couple billionaires from Texas may make a whole lot more money if they get the oil to refine it and who the heck cares if the entire Midwest is poisoned by leaking oil in to their water supply. in the coming century we are going to find out that the biggest commodity that is rare and is wreaking havoc on us, in term of shortage, is clean water. What this is about is NOT doing a good job coming up with a plan. With trying to ram the idea of a pipeline into play before the pros and cons are weighed because if you weigh them, there is not one good reason to employ making a pipeline across the midwestern water supply rather than refineries up north. So quick! pass it! Before anyone is allowed to think or reason!

This has nothing to do with building a refinery.—this has everything to do with refining it!!!!! This oil will be sold on the open market. There is zero guaranteeing it will be sold in this country. This is nearly ENTIRELY about refining it. About five billionaires in Texas want to make a few billion more refining it. So they bought and paid for republicans will heaven and earth to transport any old way, who cares who gets hurt inbetween, just get the oil to texas to refine it, then it can be sold on the world market and shipped out via the gulf to ports else where. This is 100% about refining it in Texas, so about six fat Texans can get even richer and pay zero taxes on their profits. If we build a refinery in the north and sell it in the US, that totally screws them. This is ALL about refining the oil in Texas refineries. Dont kid yourself. That is ALL this is about. Dont you know who the republicans are beholden to???????

OK let them build their pipeline but build it to where it runs through the back yard of John Boehners house. Or any other persons house that has no objections to toxic chemicals. Can’t have it in your back yard? Well how about they just claim eminent domain and pay you 10 cents on the dollar of the value of your house?

There is no way in hell the environmentalists are going to allow a new refinery to be built on US soil. They will obstruct it from the moment it is even mentioned. Thats part of the problem.

The pipeline is about a pipeline and not about a pipeline and new refinery.

There is no way in hell the environmentalists are going to allow a new refinery to be built on US soil– you can’t stop a private business from building something so long as laws are adhered to. Cape wind is going forward. You can’t stop a good design. period.

Why can’t you just vote on the payroll tax? There is ZERO need to add ANYTHING ELSE to the list of things to vote for. ONE ITEM, ONE VOTE, DONE! Geez, what a bunch of idiots. Get ready to leave office, because you are all going home…for good.

Marsha Marsha: The point is that the people that are yelling most about not being able to get this pipeline are the very ones that will yell the most if it were to cross their property. They sure don’t want it in their own back yards. It’s OK going through someone elses property. It’s a NOT IN MY BACKYARD issue.

The fact that they are SOOOOO hungry to get this passed NOW says quite a bit about how fishy it is.—— yup. exactly.

Why do you think no NEW refinery hasn’t been built in a long time===—monetary profit probably hasn’t warrented it. OIl companies aren’t like normal enterprises. They just buy their votes and republicans hear anything oil and practically wet themselves they are eager to say yes to it, completely unencumbered by the thought process. If some texan wanted to build another oil refinery, they would in a heart beat and if environmentalists wanted to raise concerns, they’d simply buy congress to tack it onto some very important bill that would shut down the government to ensure it get shoved through.

Congress is disfunctional. We can no longer afford two parties. In this paper they sign saying no more taxes, it should have a footnote no more wars. The Republicans have not paid for the last two and the senior citizen health care bill also belongs to Bush. Let’s face it the citizens hav elost control.
To bring back reality, one nneds to put federal politicans on 401ks, Medicare, and take away all their beneifts such as gym membership. Congress is living high off the working stiffs. They should be docked pay if they do not attend meetings and they should get two weeks vacation like most other people and have to work 30 or more years to qualify for Social Security as age 62 or older.

I’ve read we’ve upped capacity at the refineries the last several years. While the number of operating refineries has fallen from 254 in 1982 to 137 in 2011, the operating capacity of today’s 137 facilities is over 830,000 barrels per day more than it was in 1982.

If some texan wanted to build another oil refinery, they would in a heart beat and if environmentalists wanted to raise concerns, they’d simply buy congress to tack it onto some very important bill that would shut down the government to ensure it get shoved through.—oil companies are like the mob, and republican politicians are so flagrantly corrupt, as is being seen here, clearly,but we’re so used to it, we barely blink an eye about it. Think, for a minute, how absurd it is to tack on a pipeline to get oil to Texas refineries, onto a middle class tax bill. It’s absurd. Did Mass wind farm do this????? No. They went through the proper channels. No corruption needed. We’re so used to seeing this type of ridiculous corruption, like forest through the trees, we hardly notice it even though it is so absurdly right in front of our faces.

You guys bash away. I’m done with wrestling pigs in the mud.

We have the worst house of representatives in the history of our country and it is time for us to replace them with robots. I am sick tired of them politicians in Washington, Donkeys or Elephants they all are the same 4 legged animals who does not care about us the people.

oh man. our finances are so tight…we broke even last year on taxes…guess we will be paying in this year and we had a baby. too well off for gov help but well below the upper class. by the time we pay for healthcare and groceries/housing there is not much left at all. we are still blessed but i cant help but be annoyed by the rich out there paying a lower percentage of their income. they dont have to worry about making ends meet and keeping a roof over their families heads

I have to bring this quote out, a new favorite:

“Curtis Dubay, senior tax policy analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said extending the cut will have a “minimal if any impact on the economy.”
“Giving [the middle class] more money to spend for one year does not impact at all the type of productive activities that promote economic growth like saving and investing,” Dubay said.”

Arrogance of Heritage always gets me. Investing and saving? Why does everyone have to be a boss? Why do we have to save every penny? I though investments were also purchases into quality products? Oh that is right thanks to President Bill Jeff we have NAFTA, we don’t make anything of quality here anymore. Additionally if it breaks, toss it and get a new one. Saving and investing, how about investing in the rebuilding of american manufacturing!? Saving!? give the americans workers money to save, give them a raise! forget the CEO, he doesn’t grind it out for that product.

Also, both sides have screwed us!