Obama Vows to Veto House GOP's bill to extend payroll tax cut

OCD_OCD: The White House said Tuesday it will veto a payroll tax cut extension being prepared by House Republicans, with President Obama insisting the bill also must raise taxes on the wealthy rather than cut government spending.

In a statement of policy, the White House said the bill, which the House will vote on later Tuesday, is a Republican effort at politics rather than a compromise deal.

"This debate should not be about scoring political points. This debate should be about cutting taxes for the middle class," the statement said.

Republicans say they have given Mr. Obama everything he wants in the bill, including an extension of this year's payroll tax cut, additional limited unemployment benefits and a continuation of full payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients.

But rather than imposing a tax increase to offset the costs, as Democrats wanted, the Republican proposed a freeze on spending for federal salaries.

OCD_OCD: Obama's answer to everything. Increase taxes.

Sarcastic Dots: Nearly every country is raising taxes, including conservative ones... The only countries not raising taxes are Greece, Italy and Spain, and we all know how that's working out.

OCD_OCD: You have to be able to follow the raising of taxes to its ultimate conclusion. You raise taxes on companies who manufacture or supply goods and services and they will have to raise the costs of those goods and services? Who pays for it?

Consumers do. The middle class does. Taxing isn't the answer. Less spending is.

Sarcastic Dots: You know what, I agree that less spending in the answer, as long as it's done across the board, including the military. Even so, that has to be coupled with tax increases.

That's the uneasy truth. The only way Britain has retained its AAA status is by cutting spending AND increasing taxes. It isn't a case of either/or any more.

OCD_OCD: We aren't Britain. If we raise taxes on corporations there is only two choices. Raise your cost or cut employees.

We have enough pork spending on ridiculous projects that can and should be cut.

Sarcastic Dots: You aren't Britain, but Britain has retained it's AAA status and America has been downgraded. Think about that.

OCD_OCD: LOL. Britain can keep raising taxes until they ruin the companies that are their economy. After that who or what is left to tax?

Sarcastic Dots: Companies are going to leave America, no matter what tax cuts you implement. I alluded to this in the other topic, but our two countries share the same problem; Cheap labour in developing nations. No amount of tax cuts is going to stop larger corporations flooding to China and India.

The only thing that is going to stop an exodus of business is creating skill labour you can't find outside the western world. That is why we are failing.

OCD_OCD: We are getting labor force from China and India because our labor unions have demanded higher pay and more benefits for their workers than companies can pay and still remain profitable.

Sarcastic Dots: lol cutting foreign aid wouldn't make a dent in your debt. You're delusional if you think that these tiny cuts that you want are going to amount to anything substantial.

Sarcastic Dots: We are getting labor force from China and India because our labor unions have demanded higher pay and more benefits for their workers than companies can pay and still remain profitable.

Yeah... And? What will tax cuts do to fix the problem?

OCD_OCD: A cut, no matter what the amount is still a step in the right direction.

Sarcastic Dots: Great, we agree. So cutting part of the military budget is a step in the right direction.

OCD_OCD: You cut your military if you wish. What we pay for our military here is of no consequence to you.

Sarcastic Dots: There are American military bases in Britain... So yes it is.

Sarcastic Dots: Actually, the full quote is "taxation without representation", not "no taxation".

And I love the fact that I'm being painted as a blind Obama supporter when I said I don't mind cuts.

OCD_OCD: I suppose our military in Britain is a hardship on you? Are our military abusing Brits or is the fact that the military exists that you find so obscene?

Sarcastic Dots: No, that's not the point. But I'm just going to ask you why you posted a news article on a CANADIAN website with an international audience if you were going to tell outsiders not to comment?

If you don't want people like me to comment on your posts, then don't post them here.

OCD_OCD: Southern, Sarcastic isn't indicative of most Brits. I've traveled there often and have many friends there. Sarcastic is definitely in the minority.

Sarcastic Dots: Why is that even a point of contention? I don't belittle the American's who fought in world war II, nor their countries actions during that period. I'm grateful that America took part in world war II, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't have- They should have. Or are you implying that America would have let the holocaust happen if pearl harbour never happened? I sure hope youa ren't- I think more of America than that.

OCD_OCD: All comments are welcome. But by the same token, you should have a reasonable point to make, not simply snide remarks and unfocused diatribe.