Grover Norquist, lobbyist
As you may know, the smart Grover Norquist who runs Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) created a pledge that many Republicans signed to help in their election, or reelection campaigns. In other words, they signed whatever documents could help them get into the Ivory Tower, and then shut the doors behind them.
The Washington congressional pledge is –
ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.
The threat from the ATR is that any Republican congressman who breaks the pledge will be subject to a large amount of special interest SuperPAC money being used to getting rid of them. As you know, staying in power is number one, so the pledge signers have been humbled by this honey trap.
During a campaign, a candidate receives many solicitations to sign a variety of pledges, implying that if they do the PAC will provide financial support. They don’t, but they have the signature… which is what they want so they can wave it in front of the newly elected congressman’s face if he happens to get elected. They do the same with all the candidates, so no matter who wins, the chances are that the winner has signed the papers.
I believe that if every signer of this pledge refuses to honor it at the same time, then they’ll all be safe. If only a few, they will be sacrificed and have to leave Washington and work for a living.
The only other smoke and mirrors dodge that will “satisfy” everyone is not to reach a fiscal cliff agreement, so that the tax rates will resume their prior levels, and then vote for a middle class tax cut by mid-January.
In that way, the Republicans can tout that they are lowering taxes, and not be threatened by Norquist; the credit rating agencies (told not to make hasty rating drops, or else) can tout the fiscal wisdom of Congress, and President Obama will get his “tax increase” on the wealthy. That will take away money from the successful people and give it to the others. This will help the Democrats potentially gain more seats during the next election cycle.
They’ll also be an agreement on the budget “cuts”, not to actually reduce government spending but to slightly lessen the rate of increase. This will also be hailed as an example of miraculous cooperation and the public will applaud (and reelect) the politicians.
I think that the only thing that will really change, is nothing at all. We’ll see.
