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Afghan War May Sock Us With Surtax

House Dems propose 1% war tax

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2009 4:03 AM CST

(Newser) – Any change in Afghan strategy that involves spending more money needs to come with a strategy to pay for it, warn House Democrats. Influential committee chairs are calling for a 1% surtax on incomes under $150,000 beginning in 2011 to pay for the war. Their proposed bill would impose a bigger surtax on higher incomes and exempt veterans who served after September 11, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"There is serious unrest in our caucus" over whether the US can afford the future cost of the war, said Nancy Pelosi. "We have to look at that war with a green eyeshade on." Few expect a surtax bill to be passed any time soon, however. White House officials say President Obama will count the cost of the war before making a decision, although he's not choosing strategies based on their price tags.

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (1)]

An airman does maintenance work on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

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There ain't going to be no money for nothing if we pour it all into Afghanistan. If they ask for an increased troop commitment in Afghanistan, I am going to ask them to
pay for it.
- House Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey (D-Wis.)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 22 comments

CaptainZ64

Nov 29, 2009 11:39 AM CST

More taxes, brilliant. I think I'm going to act like our politicians and start printing money, giving myself a pay raise etc.

tomodachi

Nov 25, 2009 12:30 PM CST

@lumina: Yes... you're right. That money would be much better spent on jobs where the end product objective isn't killing people. Is DLY so ignorant that he would rather the US build a gun than build an electric car? And yes... GWB and Cheney made Halliburton way too fat on our money already. They need no more of it.

tomodachi

Nov 25, 2009 12:24 PM CST

You come here and spew out almost nothing but hate towards "liberals" and then you post something civil and expect people to take you seriously? Seriously?

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House Appropriations Committee • US military • House Democrats • military spending • Afghanistan war • David Obey • surtax

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Afghan War May Sock Us With Surtax