Politics. On Point.

Vice President Biden made a trip to Arlington, VA's grand opening of Costco where he was put some mileage on his newly re-activated Costco card. Per a White House pool report : "The Bidens have been Costco members in the past. The Vice President and Dr. Biden’s Costco memberships were re-activated yesterday; they paid the $55 membership re-activation fee to receive their new cards.The Vice President received his own card which he is carrying today while shopping at Costco." Vice President Biden was greeted by Costco CEO Craig Jelinek and Co-founder Jim Sinegal. After perusing the store's various departments and indulging in the store's available sorted food samples, he was invited to stop by the tire department but declined the offer saying to the employees, "Hey man I don't need tires, I don't drive anymore." After delighting Costco shoppers with handshakes and photo ops the VP made his way to checkout where he was seen purch...

Report Details Consequences if Congress Fails to Extend Middle-Class Tax Cuts The White House released a report from the National Economic Council and the Council of Economic Advisers called The Middle-Class Tax Cuts’ Impact on Consumer Spending and Retailers . This report provides new analysis on the impact to retailers and consumer spending if Congress fails to act to avoid taxes going up on 98 percent of Americans at the end of the year. The President believes Democrats and Republicans should come together to renew middle-class tax cuts so families and businesses have more certainty at this critical time for our economy. If Congress acts, every American will get a tax break on their first $250,000 of income, and income taxes won’t go up for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small businesses. The President believes we must take a balanced approach to reduce our deficit, that’s why he has laid out a $4 trillion deficit reduction plan that asks the wealthy to pay ...

As President Obama gets set to meet with Congressional members today regarding the fiscal sanity of the country, we get some pretty good color commentary from White House pool reporters. Just as President Obama spent his anniversary debating with presidential candidate Mitt Romney, we find that House speaker John Boehner is spending his birthday duling it out with President Obama. The president's remarks come from pool reporter, Amy Gardner of The Washington Post. PRESIDENT OBAMA:  "I want to welcome the Congressional leadership here and thank them for their time. I think we're all aware that we have some urgent business to do. We've got to make sure that taxes don't go up on middle class families, that our economy remains strong." "That's an agenda that Democrats and Republicans and independents, people all across the country share. So our challenge is to make sure that we are able to cooperate together work together find some common groun...

House and Senate at odds over extending Bush era tax cuts. To put it simply, the rich don't want their way of life compromised - ever.  And they definitely don't want an increase in taxes. What American does? "The United States Senate voted to give one hundred percent of Americans, everyone in this country, a tax cut', said minority speaker Nancy Pelosi during her remarks to the media this week."  She called the day, "a great day". That day is about to be clouded by Republicans who don't share that sentiment. Republicans want to continue enjoying tax cuts for themselves and the rich, many of whom live in wealthy neighborhoods like Great Falls, Virginia where the average home is valued at more than $1M. One of scores of mansion-like homes in Great Falls, VA.  Photo/CD Brown. Republicans plan to obstruct any legislation that would allow tax breaks for the average American until tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are extended. ...

Speaking today in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), President Obama made another plea to Congress, and the American public to call Congress, in support of the Buffet rule which would stipulate that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share of taxes.  President Ronald Reagan offered the same plan during his presidency as well.  Willing to comprise with Congress (yet again), the president suggested, "And if it will help convince folks in Congress to make the right choice, we could call it the Reagan Rule instead of the Buffett Rule." Billionaire Warren Buffet , whose secretary pays a higher amount of taxes than he, was the inspiration behind the proposed rule. A transcript follows below. President Obama with wealthy business owners who don't mind paying higher taxes.  Photo/CD Brown. "Lately, we’ve been talking about the fundamental choice that we face as a country.  We can settle for an economy where a shrinking number of people...

The House and Senate finally approved to extend the payroll tax cut along with unemployment benefits for millions of Americans.  At least for two more months. "I am grateful that the voices of reason have prevailed and Speaker Boehner has agreed to pass the Senate’s bipartisan compromise", said Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Majority Leader . "Year-long extensions of the payroll tax cut, unemployment insurance and Medicare payments for physicians has always been our goal, and Democrats will not rest until we have passed them." The President, the House and the Senate.  Two days before the Christmas holiday  an agreement is made to extend tax cuts and unemployment benefits for Americans. Said President Obama, before leaving the White House to join his family in Hawaii for the Christmas holiday, "I said it was critical for Congress not to go home without preventing a tax increase on 160 million working Americans, and I'm pleased to say that they've got...

President Obama makes strong push to get Congress pass his proposed tax cut plan, extending the George Bush era tax plan.  Congress has 26 days 9 hours (essentially, before the end of the year to do so). Speaking today in the James Brady briefing room, President Obama remarked : "A year ago at this time, both parties came together to cut payroll taxes for the typical American family by about $1,000.  But as soon as this year ends, so does that tax cut.  If Congress fails to renew this tax cut before then, that same family will see a tax hike of about $1,000 a year.  There aren’t many folks either in the middle class or those trying to get into the middle class who can afford to give up $1,000 -- not right now.  And that's why Congress must act", the president said.  President Obama speaking today in the James Brady briefing room. "My message to Congress is this: Keep your word to the American people and don't raise taxes on them right now....

Organizers of the Pray Without Ceasing Political Party met in front of the White House today to pray that Congress and the Obama Administration will come together on issues of debt conciliation and other issues. "I'm just ashamed of our Congress right now", said founder Rocky Twyman. Twyman stated that Former First Lady Betty Ford wanted it known that she was for both parties coming together to solve America's issues.  No other time is that needed than right now.  He called the timing of her death, when the two parties seemed stalled on reaching any agreement after several days of talks and bargaining, prophetic. "How prophetic it is that she told Cokie Roberts [reporter] in 2007 that she wanted it to be known at her funeral that she was for Democrats and Republicans coming together", Twyman said.   This has been a tumultuous week, with so much confusion between the Democrats and Republicans. Republicans are calling for no increas...

Today the president signed  Don't Ask, Don't Tell into law, allowing gay men and women to serve openly in the military.  The president said the signing was "the right thing to do for our security, and the right thing to do, period." Today's event was one of several events the president deemed "progress for the American people". "A lot of folks in this town predicted that after the midterm elections, Washington would be headed for more partisanship and more gridlock", said President Obama.  "And instead, this has been a season of progress for the American people.  That progress is a reflection of the message that voters sent in November; a message that said it’s time to find common ground on challenges facing our country.  That’s a message that I will take to heart in the New Year, and I hope my Democratic and Republican friends will do the same." The president met briefly in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with report...

President Obama is expected to sign the Middle Class Tax Cut Bill today in a ceremony at the White House. The bill, with parts the president admits he his opposed to - but is satisfied with, nonetheness -  is expected to grow the economy, create jobs, and help middle class families across the country, ensuring that middle class families won't incur a tax hike at the end of the year. One report explains the measure like this: Tax rates will remain at their current levels -- 10%; 15%; 25%; 28%; 33%; and 35%, based on your income. It also maintains lower tax rates on your investments for the next two years. If you make less than $90,000 a year, the bill provides an extension of the $2,500 credit you've been receiving to help pay for college tuition, which was begun under last year's economic stimulus bill. It will be easier for you to provide for your children. Under the Bush bill, you got a child tax credit of $500. That has now increased to $1,000. ...

The Obama administration has come to somewhat of a happy medium with Republicans on extending both tax cuts - and unemployment benefits - for millions of Americans. Tax Cuts And The Federal Budget The president said during his campaign that he originally planned tax cuts for the 'middle class' (a term that needs further defining in this current economic climate), but has since changed his stance. "It would be a grave injustice to let taxes increase for these Americans right now.  And it would deal a serious blow to our economic recovery", the president said yesterday in remarks to the press. Both parties voted to extend Bush-era tax cuts (for two years) while extending unemployment benefits for 13 months.  Without the tax cuts Americans could see their taxes rise beginning January 1, 2011. "I am not willing to let that happen.  I know there’s some people in my own party and in the other party who would rather prolong this battle...