By Susan Duclos
House GOP Fiscal Cliff Plan B "Permanent Tax Relief
3 for Families and Small Businesses Act of 2012" Bill PDF can be found here.
Americans for Tax Reform has issued a statement supportive of John Boehner's plan B that is expected to be voted on in the House of Representatives this week.
ATR has consistently maintained that individual Members of Congress make a pledge to their constituents to oppose and vote against tax increases. The House this week will vote on a tax bill.
This legislation—popularly known as “Plan B”--permanently prevents a tax increase on families making less than $1 million per year. Republicans supporting this bill are this week affirming to their constituents in writing that this bill—the sole purpose of which is to prevent tax increases—is consistent with the pledge they made to them. In ATR’s analysis, it is extremely difficult—if not impossible—to fault these Republicans’ assertion.
In particular, in this Congress the House has already voted twice to prevent any tax increases on any American. When viewed with this in mind, and considering this tax bill contains no tax increases of any kind—in fact, it permanently prevents them—matters become more clear. Having finally seen actual legislation in writing, ATR is now able to make its determination about a legislative proposal related to the fiscal cliff. ATR will not consider a vote for this measure a violation of the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Barack Obama has already threatened to veto the bill if it makes it past the US Senate, which would then cause taxes on every American to kick in for 2013 as the Bush Era, then passed again and extended by Obama, tax cuts expire.
Senate Democrats also have publicly stated they will not pass the bill through the Senate.
[Update] Boehner introduces Plan B to the public: