In the debate over the Bush tax cuts, the Republicans claim that keeping the tax cuts will benefit “small businesses”. However, only 3% of “small businesses” will be affected by the expiration of the tax cuts, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, a nonpartisan committee of the United States Congress. John Boehner’s reply:
Well, it may be 3%, but it’s half of small business income. Because, obviously, the top 3% have half of the gross income for those companies that we would term small businesses.
If that’s true then that 3% must be making some very large incomes. Actually it’s more like 2%:
Included in these “small business” are partnerships, sole proprietorships, and S-corps, which often have only one or two shareholders. These entities are popular because they allow the profits and losses to be “passed-through” to the personal income tax of the owners avoiding any corporate tax requirements.
Privately held Bechtel, with 44,000 employees and $30 billion in annual revenue is such a “pass-through” entity, and would be included in the Republican definition of “small business.”
It actually makes a lot of sense, the usual concept of a “small business”, the small, entrepreneurial kind, couldn’t afford to buy John Boehner or Mitch McConnell. Only that 2% can make the necessary payments campaign contributions.
H/T TPM, Bloomberg, The Guardian.
-David Drumm (Nal)
“Boner as the new Weeper of the House.” … that is sooo good!
Just wait people … Boehner has been in Congress since the early 90’s and we, here in Ohio, know him well … he is an idiot and dumber than a box of rocks … you’re gonna love it for he is going to say and do some of the most unbelievable stuff … trust me on this and keep your popcorn handy.
I’m a Pelosi fan as well. Culpability for the economic collapse may have several accomplices, but Pelosi’s role was neither a primary cause nor could she have prevented it by herself. She did single-handedly brig back health care reform from the dead. I agree with Blouise on her stannces on social issues. Unlike Blouise, I applaud her for trying to unfund the disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan. I don’t recall ever her while Speaker of the House cry like a little girl, though. I heard Joy Behar refer to Boner as the new Weeper of the House.
Blouise,
Re: “I know I stand out here all alone on Pelosi … maybe SwM is with me a little.”
—–
I’m with you a little, as well — I just feel that she sold her soul — and sold out the country — when she “took impeachment off the table.” That being said, I laud her for the good that she’s done — for her principled stances on certain issues.
… except in 1999 and the Financial Modernization bill, she voted yes … but then my now senator, then representative Brown did too … the only one who voted no was good old Dennis Kucinich
I know I stand out here all alone on Pelosi … maybe SwM is with me a little.
I like Pelosi’s stance on abortion, AIDS, her no votes (later) on the Patriot Act, no vote on Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act, yes on unemployment extensions, yes on Medical Marijuana, yes on Whistleblower Protection, yes on all good social security and medicare bills, yes on Employment, Infrastructure, and Transportation Appropriations, no on Same-Sex Marriage Resolution, no on all the prayer resolution, and yes on statehood for DC. I did not like her yes votes on war in 2001.
In my opinion she votes the way I would on almost all the social issues … I might be more of a hawk than she is … I might be more of a hawk than most of the bloggers on this site are.
I thought it was only me with the internet connections,its somewhere on this site.
Have no problem anywhere else.
I have to agree with Buddha. I put Obama and Pelosi in the same ship of failed politics/policy–and then I would like to torpedo it.
Buddha,
By clean ship I was referring to the Office of Speaker as it had been under Tom and Denny and will be again under John
Here, too — re: internet problems.
Buddha to Blouise,
If Pelosi’s ship was clean?
Investigations and trials would have been the first order of business.
She isn’t responsible for Obama’s jelly-bones, but she – by her actions – is an enabler.
————-
No doubt about it. None. Zip.
(We still need the investigations and trials, which we’ll likely never see. The corruption runs too deep, though I’d really like to be wrong.)
Sidebar: We are having freakish local internet/cable issues here. If I become non-responsive, that would be the why. I’ll play catch up as catch can if it becomes an interference.
Blouise,
If Pelosi’s ship was clean?
Investigations and trials would have been the first order of business.
She isn’t responsible for Obama’s jelly-bones, but she – by her actions – is an enabler.
Absolutely Well Said! Republicans at this level don’t care about real small business. They should use the measurement of their ethics to get a feeling for the definition of small. It isn’t Bechtel. Would the SBA give Bechtel a Small Business startup loan?
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Comments 4,418
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is canvassing members of the Democratic caucus before deciding whether to make a bid for House minority leader, she told The Huffington Post in an interview Thursday. Though Pelosi has yet to reach and ask for support, she said, calls and emails of encouragement have come from House colleagues and members of the progressive community
“anon nurse
1, November 5, 2010 at 11:17 am
Regarding, “Impeachment is off the table.”
That was a pivotal moment for Pelosi, IMO — she should never have said “Impeachment is off the table.” She had some leverage before saying it. Once said, however, she had nothing left. (It made her look weak, as well.)
When Pelosi made that statement, there might have been an interest in impeachment — that is, if the facts had come to light. Now, we’ll never know”
One of the 4,418 comments from above aricle:
“Jack Canuckski 0 minute ago (11:51 AM)
90 Fans
I may be wrong, but I think Nancy Pelosi lost a lot of Democratic rank and file support when she took impeachment off the table during the last 2 years of the Bush administration.
In that way she set the tone for the Dems as being not just non-combative, but downright cowardly.
Of course, Obama’s first 22 months in office, with his constant, futile attempts at “bipartisanship” has solidified that impression of the Dems by the general public.
I think that largely accounts for the election results last Tuesday night. ”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/04/pelosi-canvassing-dem-caucus-for-support_n_779281.html
Re: Collectively, the hubris of the wicked; the many good people of conscience in this country; and the power of the internet may be our saving grace.
“The hubris of would-be tyrants” is probably more appropriate…
It used to be that businesses had to spread out the deduction of P&E. I just got an email suggesting that I could straight out deduct $500,000 in business equipment purchase each year. Many businesses are deducting automobiles.
blouise to eniobob:
Your observation is on target
The media dumbs down everything it touches … can you imagine where we would be be were it not for the internet …
—————-
Collectively, the hubris of the wicked; the many good people of conscience in this country; and the power of the internet may be our saving grace.
oops Pelosi
Buddha and SwM,
I like Pelosi … Buddha’s points are well made but I do not hold Pelosi responsible for Obama’s lack of fortitude
She ran a tight, clean ship and willingly accepted the shit Obama allowed to be piled on her as part of her job. Trust me, no ego driven man would have been able to do that.
It would be a shame to lose her now. Like all the other politicians in Washington she has her flaws, but I do not think her flaws undermine her ability to provide good governance.
Buddha and I have agreed to disagree on this matter (he’s wrong, of course 🙂 )
Buddah Nancy Peloci would not be the first person I would blame for the economic collapse. There are hundreds and hundreds of men I would blame before her starting with Alan Greenspan.
Rough ride looms on the horizon:
Consumers’ right to file class actions is in danger
David Lazarus
If AT&T has its way before the Supreme Court, any business that issues a contract to customers would be able to prevent them from joining class-action lawsuits, taking away arguably the most powerful legal tool available to the little guy.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20101105,0,639054.column