Fiscal cliff debate illustrates true cost of Obama policies

[Draggingtree]

The Oklahoman: Fiscal cliff debate illustrates true cost of Obama policies

The Oklahoman Editorial | Published: December 28, 2012

 

IF nothing else, the debate over the “fiscal cliff” has dramatically illustrated the true cost of President Barack Obama's fiscal policies. If the president and Congress don't reach an agreement, roughly $671 billion in tax increases and spending cuts would take effect — yet the nation would still continue to run a deficit nearly twice the size of the pre-recession 2007 deficit.

 

If the tax cuts first enacted under former President George W. Bush are allowed to expire due to fiscal cliff inaction, the income tax rate will jump from 35 percent to 39.6 percent for top earners (including many small-business owners) while those in the lowest income bracket face a tax increase of 50 percent. The marriage penalty will be reinstated, the child tax credit will be cut in half, the death tax rate will be as high as 55 percent, the capital gains tax rate will rise from 15 percent to23.8 percent, and the top dividends tax rate will rise from 15 percent to 43.4 percent.snip