Tax Cut Faceoff

Congress has gone home for a long weekend without seemingly making any headway on the issue of what should be done about the expiring Bush tax cuts.

It really shouldn't be any surprise that both sides are staying in their partisan corners on this one.

"The people do know that Republicans stand for tax cuts for the rich," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

An hour earlier in the same press conference room, House GOP Leader John Boehner was sticking to his guns.

"This is not the time to increase taxes on anyone in America," Boehner said.

For now, Boehner is in the position of strength on this argument.  As far as I know, there is only one Republican lawmaker who has mumbled anything in public about not supporting the GOP line on taxes, and that's retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), who grudgingly voted for the Bush tax cuts back in 2001.

If you are looking for those who are feeling the heat, it's in the Democratic Party, where several dozen members have already publicly told Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that they back at least a temporary extension of the current tax rates.

So where does that leave Democrats and the White House?

Right now, they don't have too many options.  They could force a vote in the House and/or Senate on the matter before the elections, but many believe that would be a losing proposition.

Of course, after the elections, things could be even worse politically for the Democrats, so some argue waiting is not the answer.

So what if nothing can be worked out? 

Again, I point out that possibility for a reason - because if it is gridlock on this issue, then all Americans will see a smaller paycheck starting on January 1, 2011.

Election Day is six and a half weeks away.

Congress has gone home for a long weekend without seemingly making any headway on the issue of what should be done about the expiring Bush tax cuts. It really shouldn't be any surprise that both sides are staying in their partisan corners on this one."The people do know that Republicans ...