President Obama and GOP leaders reportedly are nearing a deal on extending all Bush-era tax cuts. The holdup has been over whether to extend them to individuals making more than $200,000 a year and couples earning more than $250,000. Doing so would cost more than $60 billion per year. What else could the government get for $60 billion a year? Here are some examples offered by New York Times economics writer David Leonhardt:
– “As much deficit reduction as the elimination of earmarks, President Obama’s proposed federal pay freeze, a 10 percent cut in the federal work force and a 50 percent cut in foreign aid — combined.”
– A 15 percent cut in corporate taxes.
– Universal preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, with relatively small class sizes.
– “Free college, including room and board, for about half of all full-time students, at both four- and two-year colleges.”
– A $500 tax cut for all households.
Surely there is no better opportunity for a principled vote than one cast by a retiring member during a lame-duck Congress, and on a matter of ethics. Yet the 77 Democrats voting Thursday not to 
At this time four years ago, Republicans Duncan Hunter and Rudy Giuliani had taken formal steps to enter the 2008 presidential race, and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback had just launched the exploratory committee for his “campaign of national renewal.” But so far, the 2012 preparations are all behind the scenes or unofficial, such as the recent Iowa visits of Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin. Mitt Romney has suggested he won’t make any announcements until after February. Why are things so comparatively slow this time? For 2012, the Iowa caucuses have been pushed to early February, a month later than in 2008. And “the front-runners, if they are indeed the front-runners, are all very well known to Republicans: Romney, Huckabee, Gingrich, Palin and Barbour,” Follow us
