Cruz files bill...

[LuFins Dad]

And increase FICA by .25%

[xenon]

Wasn't the republican's thing supposed to be getting the tax code to fit on a post card?

D and R policy is becoming indistinguishable. All about which vibes you like.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Mik said in Cruz files bill...:

The details are beside the point, which is that buying votes with taxpayer money is becoming the norm.

Historically, they have pandered more to campaign donors. Now they've broadened this to include normal people. Where will it end?

[Mik]

@LuFins-Dad said in Cruz files bill...:

Want to buy some votes? Stop taxing Social Security…

I could get behind that.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Mik said in Cruz files bill...:

@LuFins-Dad said in Cruz files bill...:

Want to buy some votes? Stop taxing Social Security…

I could get behind that.

Don't tell me, Mexico will pay.

[Jolly]

Y'all realize we're mostly talking about people who pay little tax?

And the silliness about corporate bonuses being labeled as tips is SAF.

[LuFins Dad]

@Jolly said in Cruz files bill...:

Y'all realize we're mostly talking about people who pay little tax?

And the silliness about corporate bonuses being labeled as tips is SAF.

Yeah, these type of things never create loopholes that get abused!

[Mik]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Cruz files bill...:

@Mik said in Cruz files bill...:

The details are beside the point, which is that buying votes with taxpayer money is becoming the norm.

Historically, they have pandered more to campaign donors. Now they've broadened this to include normal people. Where will it end?

It won't as long as it's successful. It's very smart on his part. Now if he'd go for the no taxing Social Security regardless. Our RMD means 85% of our SS will be taxable. Tax on our taxes.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Jolly said in Cruz files bill...:

Y'all realize we're mostly talking about people who pay little tax?

So, it's a meaningless policy?

And the silliness about corporate bonuses being labeled as tips is SAF.

I didn't say it was a tip, I said I got it for doing a good job, which is why Ted said he didn't want it taxed.

Of course, the only tip Ted Cruz has ever had was a funny orange colour.

[Jolly]

Not completely meaningless. I admire people who work, sometimes for little money.

Every little bit extra take-home helps...

[Axtremus]

@Jolly said in Cruz files bill...:

Not completely meaningless. I admire people who work, sometimes for little money.

Every little bit extra take-home helps...

Say, you're the same guy who also wants every one who makes money from work, not matter how little, to pay "income tax" (as opposed to paying only payroll taxes), right?

[Jolly]

Yep.

[Axtremus]

@Jolly said in Cruz files bill...:

Yep.

Didn’t think “every little bit helps” back then, did you?

[Axtremus]

Also, h/t @wtg :

Illinois politicians are rejoicing.

‘The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that a federal anti-bribery law does not make it a crime for state and local officials to accept a gratuity for acts that they have already taken. Writing for a six-justice majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh explained that state and local governments already regulate gifts to officials, and so the federal law “does not supplement those state and local rules by subjecting 19 million state and local officials to up to 10 years in federal prison for accepting even commonplace gratuities.” ‘

https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/06/supreme-court-limits-scope-of-anti-bribery-law/

“Gratuities” is just another word for “tips” … no tax for “gratuities” for politicians too, right?

[Mik]

I’d have to get some data on how much it costs us to collect this purported cornucopia of public funding.

[Doctor Phibes]

Let's be honest here for a moment, if Biden had proposed it, all the people who think it's a terrible idea would support it, and all the people who think it's a stroke of genius would be condemning it as pandering.

[Jolly]

Somewhat true, but The Resident has a long history of buying votes.

[Horace]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Cruz files bill...:

Let's be honest here for a moment, if Biden had proposed it, all the people who think it's a terrible idea would support it, and all the people who think it's a stroke of genius would be condemning it as pandering.

Tax cuts are in line with your typical conservative platform. I'm fairly confident my "I can't get too worked up over this" point would have stood either way.

"Buying votes" is a very nebulous concept. Any tax cut can easily be categorized as such, for those motivated to do so for rhetorical purposes. Even as tax cuts might be economically advantageous for society overall.

[89th]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Cruz files bill...:

Let's be honest here for a moment

If we are being honest, even if this passes... I bet a substantial portion of cash tips a person receives is never mentioned on their tax return. Further, for many tip-based jobs, the person is likely in one of the lowest tax brackets already.

[Mik]

It still makes some sense. The requirements for tip employees - like that they keep a daily log of tips received from customers or other employees. If they don't the government may just assess them for a percentage of sales. It's pretty ridiculous if you read it.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3148.pdf