Democrats target House Republicans in radio spots
(CNN) – Republicans in the House who have refused to sign on to a petition allowing a vote on extending Bush-era tax cuts are being targeted in radio and web advertisements by Democrats, who want to extend the cuts only on households making less than $250,000 per year.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said Wednesday they would air the ads against 21 House Republicans who have refused to sign the discharge petition advanced by Democrats. The Bush-era cuts expire at the end of the year.
"Tea Party Republicans in Congress are about to send our middle class tax cuts off the fiscal cliff," a narrator says in the radio spots, encouraging listeners to tell their representative: "Don't hold the middle class hostage to get more tax cuts for millionaires."
The Democrat-controlled Senate has passed a bill extending the Bush-era tax cuts on incomes under $250,000, but Republicans who control the House haven't brought the measure for a vote. They have passed a measure themselves extending the tax cuts for all earners.
The discharge petition requires a majority of House members to sign on, meaning some Republicans are necessary in order for the Senate measure to come for a vote. Republicans currently hold a 241-192 majority in the lower chamber.
"House Republicans have a chance to stand with the American people but instead they continue to hold the middle class hostage," DCCC Chairman Steve Israel said.
The issue of the Bush-era cuts is central to negotiations over the year-end fiscal cliff, which combines across-the-board tax hikes and massive spending cuts to reduce the federal deficit. The White House and House Republicans are currently haggling over ways to increase revenue and reduce spending, with major sticking points coming on increasing tax rates for wealthy Americans and specific cuts to entitlement spending.
On Tuesday, a top independent conservative group launched radio spots targeting five Democratic senators in the battle over negotiations to prevent the country from falling off the fiscal cliff.
Crossroads GPS said its ads urge the Democrats to support significant spending cuts as part of any deal. The group said it's spending $240,000 to run the radio commercials. DCCC did not release the size of their radio ad buy.
CNN's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
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By all means, stand firm, House GOPhers. I'm looking forward to the ads run by challenging Dem candidates 2 years from now. I expect variations along these lines: "Republican 'X' voted against working families in 2013 ..."
The 2014 congressional races are already here. All voters should keep an eye on their elected representatives during these fiscal cliff negotiations. These votes are going to make or break alot of members of Congress. Particularly republicans.
I've been screaming for the House Democrats to put forward legislation separating the two tax Bush Era Tax Cuts into separate bills since December 2008. Only after they lose the House in 2010 do they finally realize what they should have done when they had the House and could have brought such a bill to the floor for a vote. Dummies.
If both sides spent a tenth of the time working, instead of bashing the other side this B.S. would be over. Its up to the President to set an example and give specifics on moving forward instead of talking in circles
Once again the media is the source of communication between parties. Republicans in the house should take a vote and see what the Senate does with it. Propose spending cuts with tax increase on the so called wealthy. See what happens, if passed and the Senate refuses to acknowledge the passing , then it will be on the Democrats.
My representative, David Schwiekert (AZ), is one of those die-hard obstructionist tea partiers. Boehner thumped him down by booting him from the prestigious Budget committee and sticking him on the Science and Technology committee with "crazy-eyes" Bachmann.
Congratulations David! Hahahaha
"Its up to the President to set an example and give specifics on moving forward instead of talking in circles"
He did give specifics. GO look up the proposal or you're just a wilfully misinformed dupe for Faux News and the GOP.
These Tea Party GOP members are the obstructionists and billionaire lovers. They caused the debt downgrade and are politically suicidal on their ultra-right policies, despite being shown on November 6th that their ideas are not supported by the majority, including the GOP.
Im looking forward to 2014.we republicans will take a hard hit thats for sure. But then we will shed the tea part membes. Slowly but surely the new and younger GOP, will strike back.