Republicans Rooney, West differ on payroll tax compromise
by George Bennett | December 23rd, 2011
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- Boehner
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- Rooney
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- West
With the 2 percent cut in Social Security taxes set to expire Dec. 31, the House had approved a one-year extension, but the Senate voted 89-10 for a two-month deal before leaving Washington. Given the choice between a two-month extension and nothing, the House initially voted to reject the Senate version and demand a conference with Senators to iron out differences. The Senate didn’t budge, and the House GOP drew criticism for potentially allowing higher payroll taxes on Jan. 1.
The decision to accept the Senate’s two-month extension got a cautious endorsement from U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, and a denunciation from U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation.
Said Rooney: “I’m frustrated that the Senate left town and refused to negotiate a long-term agreement, but I am glad we will be able to prevent a tax hike from hitting middle class families, while correcting some of the errors in the Senate bill that made it unworkable for small businesses.”
Said West: “The politics of demagoguery have won over pragmatic principle and policy with the concession to enact tax policy on a two-month basis. This is a sad day for America and further evidences our continuing demise. Men and women of principle are becoming a dying breed in this Republic.”
December 23rd, 2011 at 8:54 am
The American public have had enough of the Tea Party obstructionists and their obsession of defeating Obama at all costs. Mr. West was on the losing side and voted to raise taxes on millions of middle class citizens. The people of Florida will vote him and his extremist right-wingers out of office in the next election!
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:02 am
Let’s see if the storied Mr. West lives up to his famed “principle” and declines to join in unanimous consent of the House vote and forces the entire House back to Washington during the holidays. Voters whom think for themselves should now have great motivation to get to the polls in November and vote out the clowns, including the sideshow soon to appear in Tallahassee.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:21 am
Obama=$15,000,000,000,000 DEBT
Spent and continues to spend MORE MONEY than ALL former Presidents combined.
Do you spend money so flagrantly or do you curb your spending and save?
NOBama in 2012. End an Error. Obama is a divider instead of a Uniter.
He has done NOTHING to Unite this country and that is HIS job!
Out in 2012! And OUT with Bill Nelson in the Senate. Over 40 years in public office and what has the guy done for FL?
Name something!
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:23 am
The democrats in PBC will villify every minority candidate just like they spat and stepped on Kendrick Meek. Democrats actually encouraged other democrats to NOT vote for Meek and vote for the Independent candidate.
DemoNcRats
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:28 am
The Democrats organized Occupy Wallstreet to counteract the Tea Party.
Just take a look at what Democrats have wrought:
Occupy Wallstreet-has cost this country and even PBC money. In PBC taxpayers are footing the CONTINUING BILL for water, electricity and police and FBI costs.
Occupy Wallstreet-nationwide has been a flithy group leaving behind garbage, with assaults and destruction of private property and fighting with police.
The Tea Party never did that.
That’s the difference in the organizations. Tea Party foots their own bill; Occupy Wallstreet – the taxpayer foots that bill and the group is disorderly.
It’s your choice in 2012. Orderly or Disorderly.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:36 am
West is a buffoon who was unceremoniously drummed out of the military and should have been locked up in a military prison to protect us from a mentally ill person, its too bad he didn’t find a bullet while he was in the military, the only saving grace is he is one and done in political office which will be true of all the Tea Party politicians.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:45 am
so working people are better off with Obama two month extension over the House passed one year extension? A glaring exanmple of how the liberal media twists the truth every day.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:55 am
Allen West truly believes he is correct.
That belief has little to do with reality.
Has Mr West ever really held any job that didn’t derrive from the American Taxpayer?
Not in the Armed Service, not teaching public school, not working for military contractors, not as a Congressman.
For a guy who believes that government is the problem, Allen West is personally addicted to taxpayer money and he will be for life.
Somewhere in Allen West’s mind there is a serious disconnect that allows him to be blind to his own personal income sources.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:57 am
Allen West and the repub party hate American workers.
December 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 am
Know how to tell when someone is campaigning against West? Alan West’s lips are moving.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:15 am
The majority of Republicans don’t feel they have to serve thir constituents. They just feel entitled and beholden p no one. I am happy for the extension as it will help many working folks this holiday season. Alan West’s salary has been paid by taxpayers most of his life. He should learn to think before he speaks.
December 23rd, 2011 at 11:55 am
According to the media, Congress wanted the cut to last 1 year. However, as usual, no one knows how to pay for the cut. The Senate came up with an idea of how to pay for a 2 month cut and said Merry Christmas, see you next year. We’ll worry how to pay for it in March. Would you like to see Social Security unfunded for 2 months or 1 year?
December 23rd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
There we have it. Allen West spewing vitriol as always. This guy, incapable of pragmatic action and always unwilling to compromise, is the epitome of dogmatic stubbornness. His fear-mongering, radical tea-party actionism is detrimental to government and he should be voted out in the next election.
December 23rd, 2011 at 12:20 pm
some idiot equated military career as “not having a real job”…as if risking one’s life for our country is the same as being on welfare. That idiot needs a brain transplant or deportation.
December 23rd, 2011 at 12:36 pm
To the person who calls himself “Huge DEBT…”
George W. Bush invaded Iraq and crashed the economy by removing safeguards in the financial and energy sectors and then telling his cronies to “come and get it”. That’s how we got into this mess and, if all goes well, it will take 20 years to straighten things out. Obama has taken on a burden that is bigger than just one president’s reign, be it one term or two. The Democrats have the better platform, and if given the political power needed, can get this country out this terrible mess. Republicans, on the other hand, generally are beholden to the very rich, hoping to get some of that money for themselves by kowtowing to big corporations and the likes of the Koch Bros.
December 23rd, 2011 at 2:11 pm
LOL!
“continuing demise”??????
What about that American Exceptionalism we’ve all heard so much about?
Allen West is a fool and a disgusting pig for trying to increase my taxes. Pure and simple. NOBODY should let him forget this. NOBODY should let him forget that he is in the pocket of the ultra-rich and the Koch-heads.
FL-22ers, JOIN OUR GROUP!
ALLEN WEST MUST GO!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/325005804195316/
December 23rd, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I didn’t see the TEA BAGGERS rushing to Congress to suggest a LACK OF A QUORUM”. That would have SAVED their principles, and killed the deal. But they didn’t do that, did they?
December 23rd, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Are these two guys going to run on their records of congressional achievements for their constituents, or on their ability to raise funds?
December 23rd, 2011 at 7:51 pm
At least Rooney had the character and maturity to say ” OK, this isn’t what we wanted but it is the right thing to do at this time” West, he honestly strikes me as a spoiled child who didn’t get his way so he is going to stomp his feet and pout about it!!
Grow up Alan West! Washington isn’t Burger King, you can’t have it your way!
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:00 pm
@ Huge DEBT=OBAMA
Obama has not added 15T to our debt.
He is not wildly spending money but has cut spending.( our deficit has gone DOWN)
Bush alone is responsible for 3x the debt occumulated under Obama.
Uniting this country is not ” His Job” per se. If you want the real divider see John Boehner in the house!
Out with the Tea Party losers who have only hurt the economy and the American people.
They have rabidly fought every effort by the President to help Americans and the economy.
@ Demos not Trustworthy …. You have to be a real idiot to try to make a statement like this about the party who put the first African-American in the Whitehouse!! OH! thats you isn’t it Obiwan? Well that explains it.
@Disorderly Conduct
The Democratic party has nothing to do with OWS. Thats a well established fact and you are a liar.
In its begining the Tea Party gatherings and demonstrations went far beyond anything OWS has done as far as civil disobedience and the need for police intervention.Go back and look up the news reports.
******Its a resounding endorsment for President Obama when those who hate him cannot find anything legitemate to criticize him about and have to resort to fabricating lies, half truths, and deception.*****
@Howie
Actually Howie, if that was the case, Yes they would be. The one year bill passed by the house was a JOKE. If you bothered to find out what you are talking about and read it you would know that it was filled with so many ridiculous demands by the GOP that the American People would be better off with the tax increase than the nonsense in that bill. And,of course, if you paid attention you would know its not a one or the other deal. The 2 month extension is only to allow more time to work out a feasible deal for the entire year.
And its not Obamas 2 month deal it was created in the Senate by both parties. Guess you will have to find some other nonsense to try to criticize the President for.
Howie, are you dislexic or illiterate or something? The person did not equate military service with not having a real job.
He stated it as one of Mr Wests jobs on the PUBLIC PAYROLL.
@ghinhee ….Don’t know what ” media” you are getting your info from but you need to find a new source.
1. Everyone planned on extending the cuts 1 year.
2. The GOP added a long list of ridiculous demands to the bill.
3. Boehner told McConnell if he worked out a deal in the Senate, the house would pass it.
4. Time was running out so the Senate leaders of both parties agreed on a 2 month extension to give more time for negotiations(W/ nod from Whitehouse.)
5. This has no effect on SS funding. SS is not losing a penny over continuing this tax cut.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:21 pm
what could be more ignorant than to define fighting in our army as “being on the public payroll”
wheb Republicans compromise the liberal media defines that as “caving in to Obama”..when conservatives hold their principles and refuse to compromise they are defined as eight wing nuts..only illiterate brainwashed people, union bobbleheads and losers of all kinds support Obama and the liberal idiots in Congress.
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:23 pm
uh…please excuse the typos..I just came home from a cocktail party in Boca
December 23rd, 2011 at 9:29 pm
West and conservative Republicans are strange people who believe that unemployment will not go down if you pay people to not work. Strange indeed.
December 24th, 2011 at 7:37 am
Too bad a bullet hasn’t found you! And Democrats want to paint the GOP as hateful! Dems are all a bunch of hypocrites & liars!!
December 24th, 2011 at 10:58 am
what a love filled post…LOL
December 25th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
Well trying to say they aren’t paid with tax dollars would be more ignorant!
Spoken like a good little pre-programed,
GOP drone.
December 25th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Those who equate our fighting soldiers overseas with welfare recipients and overpaid public union workers are traitors who would probably face a firing squad if our country was run the way it should be.
December 25th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
I am a life-long Republican who will not be voting Republican in the upcoming election. I am not and never will be a millionaire and I feel that the Republican’s have lost touch with average middle class Americans. I feel the Republican party has been hijacked by extremist and they’re not good for America.
December 25th, 2011 at 9:44 pm
you are so right, Toni. Nancy Pelosi, Ted Kennedy ,John Kerry and Al Sharpton lived the life of working people and middle class Americans so they know what they need.
December 26th, 2011 at 6:31 am
Democrats get out and vote the Republinuts out of office. Actually a better term for Bohner, West and his gang wouldl be Republithugs.
December 26th, 2011 at 7:02 am
hey Dee..get illegals to win the right to vote and the Democrats should win because they couldn’t care less if Obama and his union goon pals bankrupt our country.
December 26th, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Harry, George W Bush and his goon pals bankrupted America. You got your presidents confused.
December 27th, 2011 at 6:22 am
I agree with Dee its the policies of George W Bush which ruined the economy of USA Obama is not that much responsible although u cannot keep obama away from all the mess but Bush holds bigger share for this problem….
December 27th, 2011 at 7:12 am
Brainwashed idiots blame Bush while Obama spends trillions and puts us in debt that we will never handle by investing in losers like solar panel companies that go bankrupt..judst like a ghetto hound who found a credit card and knowd he can spend and others will pay for it..
Get educated or go away…
December 27th, 2011 at 10:02 am
Harry,
Give it up loser!
You keep talking about ignorance, but you’re only basing your comments on right wing talking points. You can rant and cry on here all you want, but it doesn’t make your pathetic ignorant talking points any closer to the truth.
The truth is that Toni is right. The Republican Party ONLY cares about the 1%. If you are in the 1%, good for you, support the evil GOP. But there are MILLIONS of Republican voters out there who are NOT in the 1%. It is THOSE people who will do your party in because THOSE people are waking up to the truth. When you have an ultra-conservative like Allen West fighting with all his might to keep taxes on MILLIONAIRES as low as possible and then fighting just as hard to HIKE TAXES on 160 million Americans… well, that cannot be more clear and obvious to the American people.
It is not obvious to you because you are mentally ill. You devote yourself to your political party over the country and over facts. Facts like the fact that the Republican Party is wholly owned by corporations and Wall Street and the fact that the Republican Party doesn’t give a DAMN about the middle class or the 160 million Americans like me who work hard for their paycheck and are struggling to make ends meet.
SHAME ON YOU and your ignorance.
SHAME ON YOU and your reliance on lies.
SHAME ON YOU and your willful neglect of the factual substance of what is happening in the real world.
SHAME ON YOU and your support of the greedy and disgusting Republican Party that is By and For only the richest people in the world.
December 27th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
OBAMA DEMOCRAT DEBT:$15,000,000,000,000!
December 27th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Soro’s money has kicked in on the blogs!
December 27th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
“SHAME ON YOU and your ignorance.
SHAME ON YOU and your reliance on lies.
SHAME ON YOU and your willful neglect of the factual substance of what is happening in the real world.
SHAME ON YOU and your support of the greedy and disgusting Republican Party that is By and For only the richest people in the world.”
The ONLY WAY is the Democrat’s way! Heil Hitler! Everybody else is lying!
December 27th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
“The ONLY people who are rich are Republicans”??????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are NOT thinking straight!
Yeah, let’s discount Nancy Pelosi-DEMOnCrat and her 62% increase in HER personal income. A millionairess, too many times over. A Princess who just rented a $10,000 per night hotel room in Hawaii.
Jeff Immelt, GE CEO, a gazillionaire-Democrat!
Bill Gates a billionaire many times over!-Democrat
Rather than keep listing the RICHEST PEOPLE IN AMERICA….see and read the list for yourself. Dominated by Democrats!
http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/gallery/larry-ellison#gallerycontent
Warren Buffet a billionaire many times over-Democrat
December 27th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
Am a registered Independent, part of the 99%, and will not vote for a Democrat in a local, state or Federal election.
Democrats controlled the government totally with President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in power. Their policies and programs passed easily through their domination of our government is still in turmoil.
We need a rebalancing of our country. The democrats’ policies have failed this country terribly.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Obama&the democrats = Occupy Wallstreet
Occupy Wallstreet has sucked the money from the taxpayer who are having to pay for the electricity, water, police monitoring.
That COSTS taxpayers! AT least the Tea Party protesters did not leave trashe, defecate, urinate, assault people.
If you want behavior like the occupiers vote democrats into office.
Not ONE damn criticism from the lips of democrats about the behavior and cost of the Occupiers.
Certainly, don’t want my children growing up in a world led by these law breakers.
December 27th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
keep crying left wing losers becuz obama like jimmy carter will be done in one term..
December 27th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Have your healthcare costs gone down since the implementation of ObamaCare?
How much are you paying for food?
How much is your house worth today?
How much are you paying for gas?
How come Obama and democrats won’t support the USA becoming independent of foreign oil and drilling here in the USA? and that would supply thousands and thousands of jobs for the unemployed.
Has Obama’s programs worked?
Have the Democrats’ policies worked?
Are we now involved in more Middle East countries that ever before?
Are we continuing to send foreign aid to Middle East countries, we destroy, and is the USA agitating in the Middle East and Africa?
Why are we paying hundreds of millions of dollars to Russia to send American astronaunts into space; When we can employ thousands and thousands of Americans and Floridians without jobs when the Space Shuttle program ended.
Democrats do not have the answers to America’s dilemma. They have had a wonderful opportunity to do something and have failed miserably.
New leadership is needed for this country. There is no unity and a President is supposed to do what is best for the country, not what is best for his party.
Sorry, democrats will not get my vote in the next election. Opportunities were there and they were wasted.
December 27th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
hey Failed policies
way over the heads of the liberal braindead Democrat idiots posting here
December 27th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
harry + failed policies:
You guys are hilarious!
Thanks for proving to the entire world that you have the intellect of a 5 year old bottle of beer and that you have the moral compass of the Grinch who Stole Christmas!
Totally laughing at you. LOL
Enjoy your day, and thanks for the laugh.
ALLEN WEST IS GONE IN 2012!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/325005804195316/
December 27th, 2011 at 5:18 pm
“hope and change” is still working for left wingnuts who are brainwashed and will never see the truth.
December 27th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Mr. West says: “Men and women of principle are becoming a dying breed in this Republic.”
But Mr. West, did you not abandon your principles when you championed Mr. Boehner’s debt-swelling plan. The plan that increased America’s debt by over 1 TRILLION dollars?
See you at the polls, Mr. West! Some of us will not be voting for you!
… And Citizen’s Insurance must be dismantled! =)
December 28th, 2011 at 6:11 am
Obama 2012
December 28th, 2011 at 8:16 am
may he rest in peace, Dee
December 28th, 2011 at 9:24 am
Forget Lois Frankel. She screwed up WPB and left the City in debt. She loves nothing more than spending the taxpayers’ dollars. Just imagine what she’ll be doing in Washington if elected.
She has had her day, time for others to take her place.
Frankel is the traditional jewish candidate always put up by the ‘democrat’ party in S FL.
It’s jewish candidates before latinos, blacks and others in S FL.
Time to change that mode of operation.
Thank goodness jewish domination is slowly evaporating. That will be done when latinos start taking office.
December 28th, 2011 at 9:25 am
Time to boot Obama in 2012.
His policies have failed. His programs have failed.
December 28th, 2011 at 9:46 am
Blah blah blah, more pablum from the fascist right. The GOP wants corporations to run this country. Anyone who votes for a Republican is supporting the idea of turning the country into a for-profit enterprise for the rich. America is BY and FOR the PEOPLE, not the profiteers and Robber Barons.
President Obama clearly deserves to win re-election over these fascist corporatists who want to let WALL STREET ruin the world.
December 28th, 2011 at 9:48 am
PROFIT AND CAPITALISM IS WHAT MADE OUR COUNTRY RICH ..YOU DON’T LIKE “PROFIT” MOVE YOUR BUTT TO CUBA..YOU ARE AN IDIOT..
December 28th, 2011 at 11:51 am
If you don’t like “BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE” then you’re the one who should move.
The United States NEVER WAS, IS NOT, and NEVER WILL BE the emblem of fascism that you want it to be.
TOUGH!
December 28th, 2011 at 1:18 pm
The only thing that I wish would die is you West, you are the most useless piece of dog dung on this earth, and I will be so glad when your voted out of office on your next run, scum like you who couldn’t even get it right in the military and should have been eliminated from this earth at birth, I keep hoping that some nut case puts a bullet in your head.
December 28th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
I have reported racist Richard’s threat to the Secret Service. Deranged individuals should no be allowed to post here.
December 28th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
That means you’ll have to find a new hobby, harry…
December 28th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
naw..I’ve been using my fingers to talk to idiots my whole life. I have no reason to stop now.
December 28th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Then you should take two of those fingers out of your nose and do some research instead of spouting your Fox news propaganda…
December 29th, 2011 at 6:04 am
harry do I sense a threat with your Obama RIP in 2012? Perhaps you should notify the secret service on your behalf and admit that you are a fascist at the same time.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:05 am
2012 was your post..you should turn yourself in
December 29th, 2011 at 9:38 am
Alan West needs to go. I would rather have a Republican with common sense like Mr. Rooney. We need leaders who actually lead, not with their MOUTHS but with ACTIONS. I am so sick of the partisanship and big money in politics. While the RW wingnuts (yes I am a Republican voter) scream about debt and deficits, they bego US the taxpayer, for our PERSONAL $ to fund THEIR campaigns under the guise of they are looking out for us against the corrupt Democrats. This isnt new, the Dems do it as well. The difference? Before Obama became OUR President, the economy was tanking and right or wrong, he at least made an attempt to right the listing ship that was our economy. When it failed, where were the so called leaders? Not taking responibility, but pointing fingers. Enough already. Last night I heard a RW talk show host blame Clinton for all of our economic woes, skipping over Mr. Bush, ignoring the fact that Newt took MILLIONS from Fannie or Freddy, doesnt matter, and saying it is all Obama’s fault. Here is an idea for those who are so quick to point fingers. Are you looking at the entire situation or just who you are voting for. Because clearly, Alan West did NOT vote the way WE THE PEOPLE wanted, so his agenda is forced upon us as well. Get to work Congress, BOTH houses, resolve OUR financial issues in a way that we dont become the next Greece or France.
December 29th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Harry don’t be obtuse or stupid. I can’t decide??? Which you are!
December 29th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
Check out the picture of Boehner. It must have been taken 35 years ago!
December 29th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Boehner is not some loser posting from a run down shanty on Dixie Highway. I understand your envy ..very sad you have come to this.
January 1st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Boehner will be out soon enough. He can’t control his own party. What a cry baby. He is an embarassing to say the least. Whaa Whaa. Boo Hoo. Boehner has to go.He is WEAK
January 1st, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Dee..you are the whiner with no life but to hate powerful successful men like Boehner who couldn’t care less what a loser like you thinks..I respond because I feel sorry for you. Lose some weight and get a life.