Top Dem Signals He’s Open

“…on Capitol Hill, some in [President Obama’s] own party are ready…” (“Obama, Hill Dems Differ On Taxes,” Politico, 9/18/12)

• ·         “Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois is floating a six-month extension of current rates combined with budget cuts so lawmakers have time to reach a grand bargain deal early next year. … ‘I want to show good faith…’”(“Obama, Hill Dems Differ On Taxes,” Politico, 9/18/12)

• ·         Sen. Mark Pryor: “we’re probably going to have to do something like that.” “…in interviews with POLITICO, some liberals and moderate Democrats appear open to cutting a deal that includes a six-month extension of all the income tax rates… ‘In the end, we’re probably going to have to do something like that,’ Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor said.” (“Obama, Hill Dems Differ On Taxes,” Politico, 9/18/12)

• ·         “Some liberals, like New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell, aren’t ruling out extending the current rates…” (“Obama, Hill Dems Differ On Taxes,” Politico, 9/18/12)

Forty Current Senate Dems Voted To Extend All Tax Rates In 2010

40 Current Senate Democrats Voted To Extend Current Tax Rates In 2010: Akaka (D-HI), Baucus (D-MT), Begich (D-AK), Bennet (D-CO), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Carper (D-DE), Casey (D-PA), Conrad (D-ND), Coons (D-DE), Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA), Franken (D-MN), Inouye (D-HI), Johnson (D-SD), Kerry (D-MA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Kohl (D-WI), Landrieu (D-LA), Lieberman (ID-CT), Manchin (D-WV), McCaskill (D-MO), Menendez (D-NJ), Mikulski (D-MD), Murray (D-WA), Nelson (D-FL), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Reed (D-RI), Reid (D-NV), Rockefeller (D-WV), Schumer (D-NY), Shaheen (D-NH), Stabenow (D-MI), Tester (D-MT), Warner (D-VA), Webb (D-VA), Whitehouse (D-RI). (H.R. 4853, Roll Call Vote #276, Motion Agreed To 81-19: R 36-5, D 44-13, I 1-1, 12/15/10)

Six Current Dems Voted For The Current Tax Rates Established In 2001 And 2003

SENS. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT), DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D-CA), TIM JOHNSON (D-SD), HERB KOHL (D-WI), MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA),  BEN NELSON (D-NE) voted for “The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001.” (H.R. 1836, Roll Call Vote #165, Bill Passed 62-38; R 50-0; D 12-38, 5/23/01)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE) voted for “The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003” in the Senate. (H.R.2, Roll Call Vote #179, Bill Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, Bayh & Nelson (NE) Voted Yea, 3/15/03)

• ·         SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE) also voted for “The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003” Conference Report.  (H.R.2, Roll Call Vote #196, Bill Passed 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, Nelson (NE) Voted Yea, 5/23/03)