Vice President Joe Biden: Tax Deal Can Be Done in a Snap
EmailARLINGTON, Va. – Vice President Joe Biden took seven middle-class taxpayers to lunch at a diner in suburban northern Virginia today, highlighting their concern about the looming tax hike that could hit at the end of the month.
“This is no time to add any additional burden for middle-class people,” Biden said, seated with his guests at a table after the meal had been cleared.
“It would take 15 minutes from the time the decision was made by the speaker of the House to pass and make permanent a middle-class tax cut,” he said. “The president would probably have me sprint up to the Hill to bring the bill down and to sign it.
“It can be done like that,” he said, with a snap of his fingers.
The White House has been pressuring lawmakers to enact a tax-cut extension immediately for 98 percent of Americans – individuals earning less than $200,000 a year and families earning less than $250,000 a year – a move that would refocus the “fiscal cliff” debate on top tax rates, entitlement spending and the debt ceiling.
Republicans oppose decoupling the middle-income tax cuts from the upper-income cuts, however, preferring to negotiate on an entire package deal.
Negotiations to avert the cliff have stalled over the administration’s insistence top rates must rise and power to raise the debt ceiling must shift to the White House.
“There are two irreducible minimum requirements for us,” Biden reiterated today, though he noted how much rates could rise is “negotiable.”
“I’m an optimistic [person], genetically,” Biden said, when asked for his outlook on having a deal by Dec. 31.
Earlier in the lunch, Biden also commented on today’s jobs report, saying, “I think we have turned the corner” on the economy.
“It’s undeniable the trajectory is positive,” he said.
Hagel, Brennan to Face Tough Congressional Confirmation 
Obama Taps Sen. Chuck Hagel for Defense Secretary 
Joe you cleaned Paul Ryan’s clock in the debate! Congratulations! Go for it!
Posted by: Bessie | December 7, 2012, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
If the Republicans are so dumb to believe that the President will not protect middle class tax cuts…they are far dumber than I imagined. The President CLEARLY HAS the upper hand here. But…LOL…I guess they were dumb enough to fully believe that Romney was going to win. I guess its time for Boehner to reach down…and see if he has “pair”.
Posted by: CND FOX | December 7, 2012, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm
“Vice President Joe Biden: Tax Deal Can Be Done in a Snap… “There are two irreducible minimum requirements for us,” Biden reiterated.”
Wait a minute, Barack Hussein. “Tax deal can be done in a snap” and then: ultimatum? That’s why we don’t have a tax-deal, Barack Hussein! Because of your my-way-or-the-highway ultimatums!
You want a “tax deal… done in a snap”? Easy! It has already passed in the United States House of Representatives! Just make a few Senate Democrats side with the Republicans and then sign it, duh. PUMA!
Posted by: Cuomocrat for Rubio | December 7, 2012, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
Posted by: Cuomocrat for Rubio | December 7, 2012, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
No clearly the Democrats offer is we’ll be flexible on spending cuts, but we’re on a small tax increase for the wealthiest.
The majority of Americans agree with the Democrats on the small increase in taxes for the wealthiest of us.
It’s the Republicans who are being belligerent – against the wishes of the majority of the American people.
Posted by: Stu | December 7, 2012, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
Oh sure. At the snap of a tyrants fingers our economy plunges further.
Meanwhile, American health care consumers aren’t the only ones who will be hit by slated Obamacare tax hikes. Medical bills for their pets may go up as well.
According to a rule published Friday by the Internal Revenue Service, some medical devices used in veterinary practices will be hit by Obamacare’s 2.3 percent device tax. Many of their manufacturers are expected to hike prices, meaning higher veterinary costs for the nation’s pet owners.
Posted by: EPU | December 7, 2012, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
Oh sure. At the snap of a tyrants fingers our economy plunges further.
Posted by: EPU | December 7, 2012, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
Well no, actually another 147,000 new jobs came on stream – another month of job gains.
Posted by: Stu | December 7, 2012, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Posted by: Stu | December 7, 2012, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Yet you’ve been unemployed and living off taxpayers Obama’s entire term. Not exactly a great example of Obama’s policies. If everyone adopted your lifestyle our economy would implode and you’d be dumpster diving like the Sandy victims.
Posted by: Bill | December 7, 2012, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Yeah. Snap of the finger.
I recall Joe Biden using the phrase “Recovery Summer” in June 2009. In April 2010 he swore that we were on the verge of “creating between 250,000 jobs a month and 500,000 jobs a month.” This was over 2.5 years ago.
We’re still waiting for that to kick in, Joe.
Posted by: Don | December 7, 2012, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
It’s funny how the GOP allowed the Democrats to paint them into a corner on their extreme and unwavering love for the top 1% of wealth-holders. You could pick any other major issue that is important to conservatives and throw it into the pot and the GOP leaders still wouldn’t ever allow it. The richest of the rich in this country trump any other cause that this so called “conservative” party stands for, and does so by a while. The Dems are only making it so painstakingly clear that even Fox “News” is having a hard time spinning it. The greed is disgusting and completely unveiled.
Posted by: Gobbler | December 8, 2012, 3:01 am 3:01 am