Ready to Break "The Pledge"

Perhaps the influence of Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform, and their Taxpayer Protection Pledge is waning. Republicans, the party of low taxes, stand ready to raise the income tax rate of the approximately half of American taxpaying units that pay none. Why is that? Well, low income households are not likely to contribute to any political cause. When your major contributors are the very rich, politicians are going to follow the money in every sense of the phrase. There is also a narrative about the greater worthiness of the people who pay taxes and produce jobs for other Americans. Bruce Bartlett has gathered a few quotes.

  Last year, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, the ranking Republican on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, declared that taxes on the rich should not be raised until the poor are taxed. “I think many taxpayers are skeptical that the answer to our fiscal problems is for them to sacrifice more, when almost half of all households are not paying any income taxes,” Mr. Hatch said.
  In April, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, said it was “unfair” that 45 percent of people don’t pay any federal income taxes. Asked if he wanted to increase taxes on these people, he replied, “You’ve got to discuss that issue.”
  In May, Richard Mourdock, the Republican Senate nominee in Indiana, likened the current split between taxpayers and nontaxpayers to the pre-Civil War division of the nation between slave and free. Consciously using Abraham Lincoln’s famous “house divided” terminology from 1858, Mr. Mourdock said, “When 47 percent are paying no income taxes — they do pay Social Security, but they are not paying income taxes — and 53 percent are carrying the load, we are a house divided.”

The poor's free ride is over! To quote our own Governor Perry, "We're dismayed at the injustice that nearly half of all Americans don'e even pay any income tax."

Mr. Bartlett's article is worth reading in its entirety, and I also recommend James Kwak's piece in The Atlantic, The GOP's Bizarre, Disturbing Passion for Raising Taxes on the Poor

Which pledge? Is Norquist's influence waning?

Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform, may have less influence on Republicans in office and seeking election. Rosalind S. Helderman reports some new information in the Washington Post, GOP showing small shifts on taxes. She writes of the Republican freshman mentioned in my post, Which Pledge? A Small Break in a United Front, She adds that candidates supported by the national party are also breaking ranks.

Of the 25 candidates this year promoted by the National Republican Congressional Committee as “Young Guns” and“Contenders” — the top rungs of a program that highlights promising candidates who are challenging Democrats or running in open seats — at least a third have indicated they do not plan to sign the pledge authored by anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist.

Two of the seven candidates promoted by the NRCC as the“Young Gun Vanguard” —candidates competing in open seats that are considered Republican-leaning — also have declined to sign.

None of these candidates are likely to vote for a tax increase, but they also don't want to be bound by "The Pledge" if they are offered a budget deal such as last year's for $1 in increased taxes per $10 in spending cuts.

Which Pledge? A Small Break in a United Front

US Congressional Republicans, the most outspoken being the freshman legislators, have made a small break with Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform's pledge to never vote to raise taxes. This is well reported in a post from Politico. Signing the pledge has been a must for winning a Republican primary, and ATR has supported internecine warfare against pledge violators.

On my prior subject of which oath is more important, I note that at least one Republican House freshman emphasizes his oath of office to uphold the Constitution. From the Politico post:

And a spokesman for Rep. Trey Gowdy, one of the most conservative House freshmen, emphasized that, first and foremost, Gowdy has “taken an oath to uphold the Constitution,” though the congressman isn’t backing away from the pledge.

Pledge or no pledge, none of these solons are likely to vote for a tax increase. They do seem more interested in governing than in litmus tests, however.

Which Pledge?
Which Pledge? The Texas Budget Compact

Which Pledge?

Here are two pledges. The first is instantly recognizable as the pledge of allegiance most Americans have recited at school, sporting events, parades, etc.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The second is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge espoused by Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform.

I, _____________, pledge to the  taxpayers of the (___________ district of the) state of _________________ and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and businesses; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

Allegiance to the second is a sign of fiscal irresponsibility and excludes the pledge to the United States. Mostly Republicans have taken the pledge so that they can win elections against other Republicans who won't take the pledge, or at least be competitive in primary contests with other Republicans and incumbents. Party primary election contests are much more easily influenced by money and party organizers such as Norquist. Consequently it is possible to elect enough people to bring the US government to the edge of default, a very irresponsible budget tactic which runs counter to the pledge of allegiance to the United States. Punishment for pledge breakers is immediate by loss of party support and funds, or deferred until the next party primary. Punishment for voters arrives in the form of dysfunctional government. My suggestion to Republicans is that you break Norquist's pledge en masse for the sake of your pledge to the United States.

Give It Back, Rick!

Governor Perry has requested permission to transfer his remaining presidential campaign funds to a SuperPAC for donation to Republican candidates and social issues. My former coworker, Carol Moya, is one of many Texans who want to be repaid for the $800,000 in Texans' taxes that were spent on the governor's security during his presidential debacle, so she created a Facebook page, Give it Back, Rick! Please "Like" it, post some content, and comment.

What does Speaker Boehner do now?

Yesterday the Speaker was unable to influence the votes of the tea party freshman in the republican caucus, damaging his credibility in any future negotiations. Among what I am sure are many options I have failed to consider, he has two that stand out in my mind. My hope is that he will change his legislation to pick up the support he needs from House democrats and pass some legislation that the Senate will accept. I think it is at least as likely that he will follow his self-interest and represent the tea party caucus that is a subgroup of the republican caucus. This might result in legislation that will pass the House, but will not pass the Senate.

Truer words...

"You can’t make any sense of American political discourse if you give everyone credit for really wanting what they claim to want."

Paul Krugman, Insincerely Yours, NY Times