Republicans Seek Federal Job Cuts in Rebuttal to Millionaire Tax - Businessweek

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Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Republicans in the U.S. Senate want to cover the cost of extending a payroll tax cut by freezing federal workers’ pay through 2015 and reducing the federal civilian workforce by 10 percent, putting them at odds with Democrats over how to pay for the $119.6 billion tax break.

The proposal counters efforts by President Barack Obama and Democrats to expand the payroll tax cut and pay for it by imposing a 3.25 percent surtax on income exceeding $1 million. Senate procedural votes on the competing proposals could occur as soon as today, and lawmakers don’t expect either approach to advance because of differences between the parties.

“This is the same argument we’ve been having time after time, just in different contexts,” Representative John Yarmuth, a Kentucky Democrat, said in an interview yesterday.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-12-01/republicans-target-federal-workers-in-rebuttal-to-surtax.html

[The_Dude 1,142]

I agree with the measure. The federal government is bloated, and spending needs to be trimmed. Now is not the time to cut the payroll tax cut, but we really don't have the money to pay for it, so I see this as a reasonable compromise.

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A pay freeze for 3-4 years at the onset of what many believe will be an era of high inflation? I'd rather they cut the workforce by whatever they need to cut but let those still on the payroll keep their cost of living increases.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

You don't "pay" for tax cuts. You reduce spending in the amount to which revenue is reduced. Otherwise, you end up with deficits. Why are they reducing Social Security Payroll deductions when benefits are already being paid out in excess of funds collected? The general fund is already redeeming some of those I.O.U.'s to pay old people that don't need the money. Time to means test all Federal entitlements.

Edited December 1, 2011 by Crusty Old Perv

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You don't "pay" for tax cuts. You reduce spending in the amount to which revenue is reduced. Otherwise, you end up with deficits. Why are they reducing Social Security Payroll deductions when benefits are already being paid out in excess of funds collected? The general fund is already redeeming some of those I.O.U.'s to pay old people that don't need the money. Time to means test all Federal entitlements.

That will kill social security. Today everyone who pays in gets it so it can't really be called welfare for poor people. Turn it into welfare for poor people and it will die because if there is one thing Americans hate more than terrorists and their keffiyehs it's poor Americans.

[The_Dude 1,142]

You don't "pay" for tax cuts. You reduce spending in the amount to which revenue is reduced. Otherwise, you end up with deficits. Why are they reducing Social Security Payroll deductions when benefits are already being paid out in excess of funds collected? The general fund is already redeeming some of those I.O.U.'s to pay old people that don't need the money. Time to means test all Federal entitlements.

Thank god I don't pay into SS, you oldsters are bleeding it dry!