Earmarks: Another One Of Obama’s Broken Promises

“I will not raise taxes on anyone making less than $250,000.

• The largest increase in tobacco taxes took effect despite Obama’s promise not to raise taxes of any kind on families earning under $250,000 or individuals under $200,000.
• This is one tax that disproportionately affects the poor, who are more likely to smoke than the rich. Obama signed a law raising the tobacco tax nearly 62 cents on a pack of cigarettes, to $1.01. Other tobacco products saw similarly steep increases.
• Now, maybe you think that Mr. Obama only meant income taxes. Not so, in his own words: “I can make a firm pledge,” he said in Dover, N.H., on Sept. 12. “Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.”
• Just for the record, I actually support cigarette taxes. But not because they produce revenue; actually studies have shown that overall they don’t. But they do reduce use of cigarettes, and as a doctor I am fully in support of that.
  

“I will allow 5 days of comment on any bill before signing it.”

• Obama broke this pledge within the first few days of his presidency. In fact, he has broken this promise on virtually EVERY BILL HE HAS SIGNED.

“No political appointees in an Obama-Biden administration will be permitted to work on regulations or contracts directly and substantially related to their prior employer for two years. And no political appointee will be able to lobby the executive branch after leaving government service during the remainder of the administration.”

• Great idea in concept, except it has a loophole.
• There is a waiver clause that allows former lobbyists to serve. That waiver clause has been used at least three times, and in some cases, the administration allows former lobbyists to serve without a waiver.
• And in actuality they may have to use this waiver more, because they are having trouble filling their posts with the current restrictions, especially in the Treasury Department.

“During 2009 and 2010, existing businesses will receive a $3,000 refundable tax credit for each additional full-time employee hired.”

• Died a quick death during the Stimulus negotiations with Congress.