Congress Passes Sweeping Tax Bill

FOX NEWS, 12/17/2010 - Despite delays and a contentious floor debate, the tax compromise legislation developed by the White House and GOP leaders is headed to the president's desk after the House passed the bill 277 to 148.

WASHINGTON -- A massive bipartisan tax package preventing a big New Year's Day tax hike for millions of Americans is on its way to President Barack Obama for his signature. ∴ The measure would extend tax cuts for families at every income level, renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and enact a new one-year cut in Social Security taxes that would benefit nearly every worker who earns a wage. ∴ In a remarkable show of bipartisanship, the House gave final approval to the measure just before midnight Thursday, overcoming an attempt by rebellious Democrats who wanted to impose a higher estate tax than the one Obama agreed to. Read more at Fox News...

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Rove: Obama and the Democratic Revolt

WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/9/2010 by Karl Rove - The White House must convince Dems—50 in the House and about 15 in the Senate. ---For agreeing to a temporary extension of all the Bush tax cuts, President Obama is now facing a full-fledged revolt within his party. The responses from congressional Democrats have ranged from chilly to angry to threatening. ∴ One asked, "Could we have a little fight before we cave? Why go right to surrender?" Another accused Mr. Obama of saying, "let 'em eat cake." Another called the compromise "an absolute disaster" and "an insult." Another complained, "we got screwed." ∴ Liberals outside Congress are even more bitter. MoveOn.org demanded Democrats not "capitulate to the GOP on this terrible deal." Some have talked of primary challenges to Mr. Obama. ∴ It won't be easy for Mr. Obama to push the compromise through Congress. Nancy Pelosi doesn't see where the votes will come in the House. Harry Reid's spokesman says simply that the majority leader "plans on discussing it with his caucus." Read more at WSJ... Read More......