President Barack Obama’s treasury secretary said Sunday he cannot rule out higher taxes to help tame an exploding budget deficit, and his chief economic adviser would not dismiss raising them on middle-class Americans as part of a health care overhaul.
As the White House sought to balance campaign rhetoric with governing, officials appeared willing to extend unemployment benefits. With former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan saying he is “pretty sure we’ve already seen the bottom” of the recession, Obama aides sought to defend the economic stimulus and calm a jittery public.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Larry Summers both sidestepped questions on Obama’s intentions about taxes. Geithner said the White House was not ready to rule out a tax hike to lower the federal deficit; Summers said Obama’s proposed health care overhaul needs funding from somewhere.
On ‘Face the Nation” Sunday President Obama’s chief economic adviser said that future tax increases are a possibility, but also that Mr. Obama won’t pursue policies that burden the middle class.
“Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer asked National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers if taxes could be raised for middle-income Americans.
“There is a lot that can happen over time,” Summers said. “It is never a good idea to absolutely rule things out no matter what.”
He added that President Obama is aware of the effects of his policies on middle class Americans.
“What the president has been completely clear on is that he is not going to pursue any of his priorities – not health care, not energy, nothing – in ways that are primarily burdening middle-class families. That is something that is not going to happen.”
During his presidential campaign, Obama repeatedly vowed “you will not see any of your taxes increase one single dime.” But the simple reality remains that his ambitious overhaul of how Americans receive health care – promised without increasing the federal deficit – must be paid for.
(Source: CBS News)
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9 Responses
I guarantee they will and they were intended to all along!
What happened to ‘CHANGE’? Have we forgotten all his promises? The Republicans promised this would happen but of course it was dismissed as politics!
Obviously America doesn’t really want change.
i told you so sme one has to pay for all of this obama rhetoric the american people what and like rhetoric and the american people just got what they asked for
The US needs a proper, modern health care system where every citizen gets proper medical care, including medications, without having to pay half of his salary on it like some in the US do.
Every European country, as well as Israel, has nationally funded health care and arrangements for the entire population to receive health care, even if they can’t pay.
The “”middle cals”” is going to pay for it not only through taxes, but also through the growing cost of ALL items…
But then they said that the gov. will inforce a cap on prices… that’s really nice! and that will force the companies out of buissiness or out of the U.S.
How come you principled anti-tax guys have no objection to taxes going up when it’s “necessary” to continue paying subsidies to Chareidishe institutions and to never-employed Chareidem in Eretz Yisroel?
Would you also object to taxes levied to pay for the school vouchers all of us want?
The grass is always greener…The American public bought into sheer “stupidity.” “Vihmayvin Yuhvin.”
Wolffman, I always agreed with you about the increased subsidies to yeshivos and subsidies for never employed Chareidim. But, I have also advocated that the Chareidi rabbonim should takeover the legal system in Israel.
So, therefore I am not being hypocritical when I say that the original intention of the Obama administration was to raise taxes as a way of nationalization EVERYTHING including the very yeshiva where you learned in.
4,
You are simply repeating what you hear on APobama etc, because that is simply NOT true.
The Bill of Rights doesnt say we must have FREE healthcare. If you want to get health insurance, you are free to do so but if you dont want to get health insurance thats your choice. I dont have to pay for your lack of getting health insurance.
Anyone can walk into a hospital for treatment if needed and they wont withold treatment for lack of insurance. There is NO SUCH THING as not being treated in the ER and anyone who tells you otherwise is full of it.
Bottom line still is that we cannot afford govt healthcare. You see Obama is now interested in taxing “middle” class. As soon as they see they dont have the money they will tax everyone. WE DONT HAVE THE MONEY!!!
We also dont want govt socialized regulated healthcare. It doesnt work anywhere. We have the best healthcare in the world — hands down and no one can say otherwise.