WASHINGTON -- The Senate and quite frankly does, I voted Monday to clear a key think, real damage to our procedural hurdle blocking efforts to rein in the action on an $858 billion deficit, that's, I think, package of tax cuts and very painful," he said. unemployment benefits, with Carper said he supports Delaware Democratic Sens. Tom extending unemployment Carper and Chris Coons voting benefits and the payroll tax to move ahead with the bill. holiday. The 83-15 tally showed But he would have been more bipartisan support for the comfortable with Democrats' package, the result of a deal plan to extend tax cuts only that President Barack Obama for couples making less than struck last week with $250,000 and individuals Republicans. Carper did say making less than $200,000, he cast his vote "without a which he said benefit the great deal of enthusiasm." wealthy as well. "I'm sure that's how a lot of He also worries that if the people feel," he said. "I'm legislation passes, it will told that, in general, when allow Congress to delay you have a compromise, not focusing on the deficit. everyone is entirely pleased." He has urged the Obama The legislation calls for a administration to make that a two-year extension of Bush- priority. era tax cuts for all income "What bothers me is the two- brackets -- including the year nature of this extension wealthiest 2 percent of and the possibility that we Americans -- that were set to may just delay for two years expire Dec. 31. The bill also getting serious about deficit would extend jobless benefits reductions," he said. for 13 months, bring back the Coons said he supports the estate tax and cut payroll plan's extension of research- taxes for a year. and-development tax credits "This bill is not ideal," and provisions to promote Coons said in a statement. investments in green "Extending tax cuts for technology. But he faulted millionaires at a time when the bill for not including an our deficit is spiraling is extension of the Build irresponsible, but as the America Bonds program or president and economists have advanced energy manufacturing argued, raising taxes on the tax credits. He co-sponsored middle class during a amendments to include both recession is dangerous." measures. The Senate will likely hold Many economists say the tax- its final vote on the measure cut agreement between Obama later this week. Monday's and Republicans would boost lopsided support for moving the economy in 2011 and help ahead with the legislation the recovery gain speed. will help the White House But independent budget lobby reluctant House watchdog groups say it would Democrats. Last week, House add to the national debt and Democrats urged Speaker Nancy delay getting spending and Pelosi not to schedule a vote tax policy into alignment, until the package is amended. which they say is urgently Obama urged the House to act needed. quickly on the bill. Former President Bill Clinton "I recognize that folks on appeared at a White House both sides of the political news conference with Obama on spectrum are unhappy with Friday to offer support for certain parts of the package, the agreement, calling it the and I understand those best possible deal for both concerns," he said Monday. "I sides. share some of them. But The legislation would cost that's the nature of $858 billion over 10 years -- compromise -- sacrificing increasing the national debt something that each of us by the same amount. That cares about to move forward includes $801 billion to on what matters to all of us." extend the Bush-era tax cuts It's possible that House through 2011 and 2012, and Democrats could get some $57 billion to extend long- changes, such as a revision term unemployment benefits to the estate-tax proposal, for 13 months. The threshold which many Democrats consider for the Alternative Minimum overly generous. The current Tax expired last year, so proposal calls for that renewal is retroactive. reinstating the tax for two The increase to the national years at a 35 percent rate debt could be mitigated if for everything over the first the nation sees faster $5 million of an individual's economic growth, as many estate and everything over economists are predicting. the first $10 million of a That would produce more jobs couple's estate. and tax revenue for the (2 of 2) government and reduce the Carper said he worked for number of people years to build bipartisan participating in safety-net support for a proposal that programs such as unemployment would impose a 45 percent benefits and food stamps. rate on everything over the Obama said Wednesday that a first $3.5 million of an continued standoff with individual's estate and congressional Republicans everything over the first $7 would have hurt the economy. million of a couple's estate. He was concerned that Those levels would then be Republicans would block a adjusted with inflation. renewal of unemployment "To see that jettisoned and benefits beyond the 26 weeks be replaced by something offered by most states. that's arguably not as fair
Tags: ahead, cuts, pushes, Senate
