The African Queen Strikes Back

The African Queen Strikes Back

“    "Speaker John Boehner is pleased as punch with himself and his caucus for "dragg[ing] a reluctant Senate and White House into taking this imperfect first step toward getting spending under control," but he's not ready to call it a day just yet. In an op-ed in USA Today, Boehner reminds America that "before serving in Congress, I ran a small business. Created jobs. Met a payroll." This is why Boehner heartily endorses Rep. Ryan's "Path to Prosperity," which "leads where the administration has failed and takes on autopilot spending that's driving our debt crisis while preserving critical health and retirement security programs for the future." Boehner goes on to write that "to be credible, the White House plan must preserve and protect programs such as Medicare and Medicaid." Incidentally, Ryan's loudest critics contend that the Path fails to do exactly this.  [Via DC] ”

But then ... Obama Puts Taxes on Table Meanwhile, independent analysts have determined that Ryan's plan would eliminate nearly $3 trillion in tax deductions--"such as the mortgage interest deduction, the deduction for charitable contributions and the exclusion for employer-provided health insurance"--even as it lowers the top personal and corporate tax rates to 25 percent. That, in my case, would result in a net $2000 tax increase.  While I will not be happy over it, if the cuts include every cent given to every interest group - and I mean PBS, NPR, Abortion Inc; - you name it - then I'll maintain a semi-hardon. Now, Can I Please Go Squeeze Some Fruits?