GOP Presses for Tax Cuts

House and Senate Republican leaders are renewing their call for extending the Bush 2001 tax cuts and are warning that Democrats will hike taxes in an omnibus spending bill if they opt out of voting on individual appropriations bills.

They’re headed for an ‘omnibust,’ ” said a key GOP staffer. At a news conference, the leaders rolled out what will be a weeklong assault on Democrats going into the August recess set to begin late next week. “We want to show that the do-nothing Democrats do have a plan: raise taxes and spend on their special projects,” added the aide.

The effort is two-pronged. Republicans first are pressing for tax cuts and an extension of the 2001 tax cuts. They claim that the reductions led to job growth and an expanded economy that is still humming. They also say that the Democrats do not plan to pass appropriations bills and instead will push for one massive bill that will be filled with pet projects and new fees and taxes.

A Democratic aide dismissed the claim, saying that Congress intends to move on  individual appropriations bills.

The Republicans come armed with polling that appears to bolster their focus on taxes and spending. After the war, those are the top issues in the 50 congressional districts the Republicans are targeting in the 2008 election, said a GOP strategist.

--Paul Bedard