Snowe Job

Olympia Snowe was the one remaining candidate member of reality based Republicans in Congress anonymous. She evidently decided to make sure that smear didn't stick.

her opinion on the House reform bill, which may get a vote in just 48 hours. "I do not know what world they live in," Snowe said, apparently in reference to House Democrats. "But all I know is it is totally detached from the average person, the average business owner who is struggling to keep their doors open and to have that level of taxation is breathtaking in its dimensions. I just think it is so out of proportion with reality and with mainstream America that it is hard to believe, frankly."

The breathtaking tax is to be collected from individuals with income over $500,000/yr and families with income over $1,000,000/yr. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the average person *or* the average business owner. Snowe is proving that she is, after all, a Republican, and is therefore willing to claim that a tax on the highest income fraction of a percent is a tax on the average American.

I think this shows that it is not possible to be a Republican in Washington today without lying about tax progressivity.

Snowe mentioned reality and "mainstream America." She surely knows that most adults in America support the proposed surtax on millionaires and that most adults in America oppose the excise tax on expensive health insurance advocated by, among others, Olympia Snowe.

In the same sentence in which she mentions reality, Snowe claims that mainstream America agrees with her on what to tax even though mainstream America has very clearly said it totally disagrees with her. Republicans in Washington will not speak honestly about tax progressivity or about public opinions about tax progressivity.

Notice this poll about a surtax starting at lower incomes than the tax in the current bill on the floor of the House.

"Next, please tell me whether you favor or oppose each of the following as a way to pay for the health care bill. How about . . . ?"


Favor Oppose Unsure
% % %

"Reducing payments to Medicare providers, such as hospitals and doctors"

10/16-19/09 36 61 3

"Imposing a surcharge on federal income taxes for individuals with annual incomes over $280,000 and families with incomes over $350,000"

10/16-19/09 59 38 3

"Imposing a tax on insurance plans that have the most expensive benefit packages"

10/16-19/09 34 61 4

And now tell me, who exactly is out of touch with reality and mainstream America ?