Elections Have Consequences

“I don’t think millionaires and billionaires are going to suddenly stop working hard and making money if we raise their taxes.”

“Raising taxes is not going to harm millionaires and billionaires.”

“I will violate the pledge (to Grover Nordquist) for the good of the country.”

“It is fair to ask my party to put revenue on the table”

“During my 30 years on Wall Street, taxes on unearned income have bounced up and down with regularity, and I’ve never detected any change in the appetite for hard work and accumulating wealth on the part of myself or any of my fellow capitalists.”

You would expect to hear comments like these coming from Democrats.  But these statements were made by Republican congressional leaders.

Lawmakers return to the hill this week facing the daunting task of avoiding the proverbial “FISCAL CLIFF.” But unlike in the weeks and months prior to the election; Republicans seem to be softening their stance on tax increases. 

The president campaigned on reducing the debt through a balanced approach that includes spending cuts and increases in revenue.  The president wants to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1%.  The voters agreed.

Elections have consequences.  Based on the quotations noted above, Republicans seem get it.

Let’s hope so.  Because the “CLIFF” is very real…and the country can ill afford another four years of Washington gridlock.