Nancy Pelosi Not Dealing Without Millionaire Tax

Though SOPA and PIPA are eating most of the media airwaves (read: none of them except the internet) regarding battles on capitol hill, one knife-to-a-gun-fight scuffle still going strong is that of the millionaire surtax: a left-field favorite being tempered and flouted more than ever by has-been Nancy Pelosi.

The former speaker got aggressive (and it could be argued down-right nasty) regarding her push for higher taxes on the wealthy, insisting that said millionaire surtax should be part of the holiday payroll tax extensions deal.

During her weekly Capitol news conference, Pelosi called the surtax the “simplest, easiest way” to pay for the package that will include extension to the payroll tax holiday, jobless benefits, and the Medicare reimbursement for doctors.

“This is a middle-income tax cut,” Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday. “It is not going to be paid for by a penalty to the middle class. So you have another idea? Tell us why the surcharge is not the best way to go.”

Easy, cowboy. I surrender!

Democrats pushed for the millionaire surtax before the December recess, but heavy Republican opposition slapped it down. Congress passed a 2-month extension for the benefits noted, but it expires at the end of February. Democrats have been hint-hint-hinting that that the surcharge could resurface when the 20-member conference committee meets.

But Pelosi is issuing a definitive challenge to her Republican antagonists, saying Wednesday:

“If the Republicans have some other suggestions, let them put them forward,” she said. “But Democrats are not going to give with one hand to the middle class and take away with the other hand.”

Thanks!

Biting irony aside, whether or not you can agree philosophically with a millionaire surtax, do you think picking fights is the way to go, or that Nancy Pelosi is the face for the product?

I mean, we all know how well harsh rhetoric works for Republicans…