Boyda & Moore Vote on Tax Relief While Republicans Lie

"Largest tax increase in history," right?

Wrong.

From the Lawrence Journal-World:

It’s a simple statement that packs a powerful political wallop.

Jim Ryun, Lynn Jenkins and Nick Jordan — all Republicans trying to unseat two Democratic congressional incumbents who represent Lawrence — say the Democrats voted for the largest tax increase in the history of the United States.

Did U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, whose district includes west Lawrence, and U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, whose district includes east Lawrence, endorse such a proposal?

Both Boyda and Moore say absolutely not, and that their potential rivals are distorting the record.

And they, of course, are distorting the records of both Boyda & Moore. What actually happened?

Hours after the vote, the National Republican Congressional Committee issued a news release targeting what it considers vulnerable Democrats, and accusing them of voting for a record $683 billion tax increase.

But the Democrats say that’s not true, and so does a nonpartisan budget study group.

“It’s dishonest to claim that the budget resolution passed by the House ‘raises’ taxes,” said Moore. “The budget resolution does not change the tax code at all, but presents a fiscally responsible long-term plan for our nation’s finances, including keeping tax relief for families and the middle class,” he said.

Democrats argue the resolution envisions eliminating the budget deficit in 2012, while funding critical needs and preserving middle class tax cuts.

Repeat: it preserves the middle class tax cuts. Preserves them. End of story. Might taxes go up on the wealthiest Americans? Yes, yes they just might, but will they increase on middle class Americans. No.

But Jim Ryun is perfectly happy to lie about that.

In a speech before the anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity, Ryun said the resolution that Boyda voted for will increase the taxes on millions of Americans, including many in the middle class.

But the resolution also includes policy language that calls for middle income tax relief, including extension of the increase in the child tax credit, relief from the so-called marriage penalty, and other deductions aimed at the middle class.

“Nancy has always believed that the middle class relief should be made permanent,” said her spokesman Thomas Seay. He said the sunset clauses in Bush’s plan don’t take effect until 2011. “Nancy has said again and again that when this issue reaches a vote, she’ll support extending middle class tax relief,” Seay said.

Ryun is willfully misleading anyone who will listen to him about what this resolution did- and that is simply beneath someone who wants to represent all of us in the United States Congress.

So, fine, you don't want to take it from two Democrats that they aren't raising taxes when Republicans say they are? That's fair. How about, instead, a non-partisan group of budget analysts?

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says the budget resolution contains no tax increase, let alone the largest in U.S. history.

The resolution approved by the House assumed that the nation’s tax law would be amended to extend some of the expiring tax cuts, especially those affecting middle class families, according to the center, which is a nonpartisan group that works on policies and programs that affect low- and moderate-income families. The costs of those tax cuts would be offset by other changes in policy, which could include eliminating the tax cuts for the very wealthy, some Democrats have argued.

Of the allegations made by the Republicans, Aviva Aron-Dine, a policy analyst with the center, said, “Our view is that that claim is inaccurate.”

She added, “The language of tax increases is very powerful. It’s important to correct the record.”

You better bet your boots it's important to correct the record. Lynn Jenkins, Jim Ryun & Nick Jordan, along with the NRCC, are all misleading voters- and, we're sorry, lying about something as fundamental as a tax increase is deeply distressing.

Don't let the Republicans lie to voters- make sure everyone knows Nancy Boyda is committed to working for middle class tax relief.

We Didn't Start the Fire...

CapJournal this AM has a precious piece about Rep. Nancy Boyda and our good friend to the east Rep. Moore and the apparent fire they are under as GOP groups ramp up efforts to defeat the two incumbents.

A new memorandum prepared by the National Republican Congressional Committee identifies 23 Democratic incumbents — including U.S. Reps. Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore — as points of emphasis in the November general election. The memo obtained by the Washington political newspaper Roll Call was created by the NRCC to guide political action committee donations.

I have lovingly named this mission Operation Homeland Security. And something tells me that its going to be all about fear and terrorism and scary things that go boom in the quiet Kansas night. Instead, I suggest Prom Night, in theaters Friday. Their efforts will be about as effective as the TSA strip-searching grandmas at the airport.

Rep. Moore has been targeted by the NRCC since he was elected. Let's be honest, he's not going to lose. They need to let it go and move on to a district where they can win. But if they want to waste resources in a pricey media market I say rock on. My advice is to get a better funded opponent. Cause it seems Nick is having some issues making gains on Rep. Moore's over $780,000 cash on hand. EEK!

Boyda, of Topeka, said she would ignore the target on her back.

"I don't allow myself to be distracted by that kind of thing," she said. "I stay in my lane and work hard to do the job the good people of the 2nd District sent me to Washington to do."

This kind of strategy is perfect. If you do a good job, if you work hard then all you have to do is spend time telling the good people of your district what you've done to help them and work to make their lives better.

What this piece only touches on is the fact that there is no conclusive opponent against Nancy and the long hot summer and violent destructive battle that we'll see before a Republican candidate is uncovered only 12 weeks before the final Election Day.

And let's be honest here, the Kansas GOP doesn't have a strong track record of being inclusive and embracing all of the members of their party. OUCH! We didn't start that fire....