Norquist knows a good deal when he sees one. Does Obama know a bad deal when he does?
by David Atkins
Grover Norquist likes Boehner’s “Plan B”:
Grover Norquist, the keeper of anti-tax conservatism, gave his blessing Wednesday to House Speaker John A. Boehner’s plan to increase taxes on those earning more than $1 million a year.
Norquist’s change of heart is a substantial shift for the president of Americans for Tax Reform, who for more than 25 years has been the enforcer of no-new-taxes purity in the Republican Party.
“Republicans supporting this bill are this week affirming to their constituents in writing that this bill — the sole purpose of which is to prevent tax increases — is consistent with the pledge they made to them,” Norquist’s organization said in a statement. “In ATR’s analysis, it is extremely difficult — if not impossible — to fault these Republicans’ assertion.”
“ATR will not consider a vote for this measure a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” the group wrote.
It’s such a good deal for Republicans that even Norquist is on board. That should be a big flashing warning sign for Democrats that it’s not a good deal for the American people. No deal with the Republicans who were resoundingly rejected in the election should be made in any case. But if a deal is to be made, it shouldn’t be acceptable unless the far right is howling mad.
If Norquist is on board, no Democrat should be. Tying Social Security to chained CPI and pushing the threshold for tax increases on the wealthy to north of every dollar above $400,000 is already a bad, no good horrible deal that should be resoundingly rejected by the White House and, if the White House is foolish enough to agree, Democrats in Congress.
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