Last month, I told you that LV Congressman Charlie Dent has signed on to a resolution offered by Rep. Todd Tiahrt, expressing Congress’ belief that a VAT (value added tax) would be harmful to America’s economy. A VAT is basically a national sales tax. It's regressive and, as Congressman Dent has noted, “Imposing a VAT on the American people would disproportionately hit working families and seniors, raising the cost of virtually all economic activity in America and crushing any economic recovery. It would be a path to more and more government spending, instead of fiscal responsibility.”As Bethlehem mayor, John Callahan recently advocated a 17% sales tax increase. In fact, he was pretty much the point man on this bad idea. Now that he's running for Congress, did his thinking suddenly change? In an effort to be fair, I called his campaign HQs and asked for his position, especially since he has already supported an optional increase on a more local level. His communication director told me she'd either call or email me with his position that very day.
That was April 22.
Well, just as he played dodge bill with his position on that health care overhaul, he's avoided taking a position on a national sales tax.
He could get away with ignoring me. After all, I'm just a bottom-feeding blogger. But now Congressman Dent has issued a news release, asking for Callahan's position.
I wonder if he'll try claiming that this is just a hypothetical question, like he did with the health are overhaul. Maybe he'll pull a Biden, and claim, "This is a big f----ing deal!"
“John Callahan has long believed that government bureaucrats and politicians like himself are best entrusted with your money,” Congressmen Dent said. “And the evidence is clear that Callahan is wrong. Finding new ways to tax working Americans so government can spend more is not fiscal responsibility.”
“Because of John Callahan’s strong support for a sales tax increase, voters have a right to know where he stands on a national sales tax that would send more of their money to Washington,” Congressman Dent said. “The people I represent know I will continue to fight for lower taxes, allowing the American people, innovators and small businesses to make the decisions that will lead us to sustainable recovery.”
First of all, no one in the majority party is talking about a VAT, so this is an attempt to pull an issue out of thin air.
ReplyDeleteSecond, this more proof that Charlie Dent is trying to have it both ways on the deficit. He rules out raising taxes, but won't specify what program cuts he wants. Here's America's spending. What does he want to cut? He never says.
Third, everyone knows taxes are going to have to go up taxes sometime in the next 10 years. There's simply no other way to pay down the deficit. The question is, do we raise the income tax, or do we raise it from a broad-based tax with no deadweight loss.
Conservatives are always complaining that 47% of Americans pay no income taxes. A VAT would ensure that everyone pays a minimum amount of federal taxes. I like the idea, for after the economy recovers, but there's going to have to be a serious financial crunch before it becomes politically possible. You're not going to see any elected Democrats or Republicans get on board for a long time.
Mr. Geeting,
ReplyDelete1) In my April post, I linked to several statements by Dmocrats indicating tht VAT is very much on the table. Noreover, Obama has stated he is "open" to the idea and it has worked in some countries. Here's the link:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/obama_stirring_up_vat_of_tax_trouble_fGATEXgBC548BMlG4HpgHP?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME=
2) Where would Charlie Dent cut spending? Gee, he has stated he will oppose any effort to fund the health care overhaul rammed down our throats. That will save $1 trillion.
3) It's nice to know that you, a spposed liberal, support a regressive tax whose impact will be felt most by those who can least afford it. Rather than being an "independent", you ae carrying their water while they dance arod the question.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteNot funding health care won't save a splendid cent. Health Care Reform is debt-neutral, and that's not my opinion, that's the OMB and CBO's opinion, and they are, yes, the only referee's we get in this game. In fact, they went further, to say HCR saves us over $100 billion this decade, and over $1 trillion the next. Charlie has not put forward a plan yet to fight the deficit. He has pledged to not raise taxes, but somehow close a gaping hole in our budget. This is like math class, show your work. Does Charlie agree with the GOP budget, or not? Simple question. If he does, then we know how he will close the hole, and we can debate that. If he doesn't, then he needs to tell us how, and tell us something serious. While Jon is incorrect to say the VAT hasn't been brought up really, he's right to say it's not a pending proposal in Congress. Charlie is making his own issues out of the air.
Rising Sun and Jon Geeting, I love your pathetic attempts to make an issue of the Ryan budget. While you guys are talking about a minority party budget plan that is irrelevant in a year where the majority party is likely to punt on the budget, Callahan isnt even taking positions on some of the biggest policies that are actually relevant. He didnt take a position on healthcare until AFTER the vote. Now he is running and hiding on VAT. I bet he has NO COMMENT when it comes to immigrations reform. As much as you talk about obscure parts of a minority party budget proposal, it doesnt gloss over the fact that Callahan is a political coward who only jumps when the National Democrats tell him to. Further proof of this was when he decided to support Specter the day after Biden was in town.
ReplyDeleteSorry Jon, back in October 2009 Nancy Pelosi said (and I quote), "Somewhere along the line, a value added tax plays into this."
ReplyDeleteIn April 2010 in an interview with John Harwood of the NY Times, Obama repeatedly refused to rule out a VAT, stating he "wants to get a better picture of what our options are."
In April 2010 a Congressional Insider poll showed 53% of Congressional Democrats supportive of a VAT.
It's on the table, Callahan is ducking it because Biden hasn't told him what his position is yet.
it won't happen. Period, end of story, so why debate it.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we should know their positions on whether or not to make contraceptives illegal or reinstitute the draft. both have the same level of chance as a national sales tax.
Callahan will give us his position when Nancy Pelosi tells him what it is.
ReplyDelete"it won't happen. Period, end of story, so why debate it."
ReplyDeleteDo you not care about the positions of a candidate on a massive tax increase that is a possibility (maybe remote) in Washington? I think it is vital to know whether Callahan will go to Washington and support massive tax increases. When you run for a public office, you are going to be asked to take a stand on public issues such as VAT.
No! We wouldn't possibly want to take ANY action to control our debt. That might cost us MONEY! I'm so sick and tired of these politicians who continue to spend money and then tell their constituents they don't have to pay for it. Guess what? The money is already spend - wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, righting the economy after 9/11, righting the economy after Wall St ripped us off - and we need to pay for it.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that if a politician IS honest and says we have to pony up, they get vilified by Repub Congressmen and their blogger minions. It's a sad state of affairs.
BTW, did Jon Geeting ever make the correction on his website which a second grader would have noticed with any bit of research?
ReplyDeleteGeeting claimed public school workers didn't pay for their retirement. He lied and perpetuated the lie by refusing to make a correction all while flaming the person who pointed it out.
Zero credibility. Even with these posts, Bernie O'Hare is more trustworthy.
That will save $1 trillion.
ReplyDeleteDo you understand how much our debt is? Ignoring health care is not going to save that trillion. It would cost that and more.
"I'm so sick and tired of these politicians who continue to spend money and then tell their constituents they don't have to pay for it."
ReplyDeleteIm so sick of this Congress passing massive spending bills and increasing our government debt exponentially over what it was under the last two administrations, and then telling me, "Well, the money is spent so now you have to pony up for it."
Cash for Clunkers, Stimulus, mortgage bailouts, Medicaid for all...seriously??? Now you are telling me that I am creating a "sad state of affairs" because i dont want to pony up anymore than I already do?
Yes because a depression was a far better alternative.
ReplyDeleteThink, I'm begging you.
And did I miss Medicare for All? You need to make things up to prop up your failed ideology.
ReplyDeleteDent should maybe think about the salient issue of wall street reform before he gins up false issues. Don't you think?
ReplyDeleteBut I guess when you get $700 million from wall street your position is set
Anon. I didn't say Medicare for all. I said Medicaid. See this is your problem, so hung up on liberal talking points. Have you read the healthcare bill? It vastly expands the MEDICAID rolls to try and cover as many of the uninsured as possible. One problem with that is the bill fails to deal with the supply side of the equation. I'm not even asking you to think, I'm asking you to merely read. Obviously you are incapable of thinking for yourself.
ReplyDeleteIs the "who's in bed with wall street" argument really one liberals want to have?
ReplyDelete$700 million from wallstreet? talk about throwing out false information. 7 of 10 of the largest benefactors of wall street cash are dems. Obama is the largest recipient of goldman cash. On and on.
Where is the post about Dent trying to strip citizenship and people's rights?
ReplyDeleteHe's a Democrat, which means he for taxing everything that moves and taxing it more. Anybody with a passing knowledge of politics knows this. Republicans can't be trusted here, either, and should be vetted carefully. But Democrats and more and higher taxes go together like peas and carrots. This is a dog bites man story. No news here.
ReplyDeleteAnon. I didn't say Medicare for all. I said Medicaid. See this is your problem, so hung up on liberal talking points. Have you read the healthcare bill? It vastly expands the MEDICAID rolls to try and cover as many of the uninsured as possible. One problem with that is the bill fails to deal with the supply side of the equation. I'm not even asking you to think, I'm asking you to merely read. Obviously you are incapable of thinking for yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you trying to back out of your bogus post now. You said Medicaid for All. Where is my Medicaid? Am I not part of "All?" Stop making stuff up. Not all of us mare as dumb as you.
Obama is the largest recipient of goldman cash.
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I'm wrong, but didn't Obama's Justice Dept file the civil suit against Goldman? Takes brass balls to sue your largest contributor.
12:41 is another who wants want wants but never wants to pay. It's people like him that have ruined this economy.
ReplyDelete"Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Obama's Justice Dept file the civil suit against Goldman"
ReplyDeleteYeah. Its scared them so much that they endorsed his bill, the stock continues to do well, and they had a very good earnings report. They are quaking in fear of Obama...
"Not all of us mare as dumb as you."
ReplyDeleteAt least i am dumb enough to know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.
Also, in a post where you are trying to describe how smart you are...at least try to spell everything correctly.
2:01 is right. This mess is taxpayers' fault for not paying enough. Government has been run splendidly. Callahan is right to defend the status quo. He knows things are great and government can't get any better. No wonder Dent keeps bitch-slapping these pinatas who claim to be legitimate opponents. This Callahan mess was shot in the ass before it got started. Dems are already working on their next try at Dent. I hear Sam Bennett has a new plan to rake in campaign cash for another try.
ReplyDeletedefinition of "instant": the time that elapses between the posting of a favorable Dent article by Bernie, and a semi true rebuttal by Jon Geeting
ReplyDelete"Stop making stuff up."
ReplyDeleteThat is the scary thing, Im not. Instead of only getting your information from liberal bloggers, try actually cracking into the healthcare bill. Most of the expansion of coverage in the bill occurs in MEDICAID (look that up in the dictionary). You probably do qualify under the new bill for either medicaid or subsidized coverage. When you get finished smoking your cigarette and eating your twinkie, you should go see if you cant get some of that free healthcare. I'll be here working so you dont have to.
How dreadful. Expanding coverage for the poorest Americans so we don't have to subsidize their use of ER's.
ReplyDeleteTake it from me. You'll never have to worry about paying for all of it! The system works!
ReplyDeleteObama and his ilk were always Pandora's Box.
ReplyDeleteI warned you fools.
I'm still undecided on this race. I like what Charlie Dent has done but the Liberal in me loves John Callahan. Callahan is a awesome mayor so I guess it would be best for him to stay as mayor. IDK, Im still undecided...
ReplyDelete