The pressure on Fred Upton begins to swell on news of his joining the Deficit Reduction Super Committee

Yesterday, I mentioned that, as Michigan Congressman Fred Upton had been appointed one of the 12 members of the Congressional Deficit Reduction Super Committee, we, the people of Michigan, should do a better job of, 1) pushing him to acknowledge that tax increases, and not just budget cuts, are needed to bridge the nation’s growing budget deficit, 2) reporting on his ties to corporate lobbyists, and organizations such as the Club for Growth, which are dedicated to rolling back taxes on the super-wealthy, regardless of the negative repercussions for our society, and 3) building awareness of his new role, as well as on his non-mainstream stance on the taxation of the wealthy, among his constituents. Well, based on this article in today’s Kalamazoo Gazette, it appears as though some of this is already shaping up. Specifically, it’s noted in the article that Michigan Citizen Action, Progress Michigan, and MoveOn.org already have people on the ground in Upton’s district, organizing resistance to the “Tax Breaks as All Costs” jihad of the Republican party. And, the good news is, Upton already seems to be indicating that we should consider the closing of tax loopholes exploited by the corporate class. (As you’ll recall, most Republicans fought even the closing of corporate jet loopholes in recent deficit reduction talks, stating that doing so would keep companies from creating new jobs. It’s not a huge step, but I’m encouraged that Upton is saying publicly that he’s open to going at least that far.) Here’s a clip:

At a public forum Monday, Congressman Fred Upton said he was open to closing tax loopholes to help bring the federal budget into balance.

“We need to look at everything,” Upton said in his first public comments since being appointed by House Speaker John Boehner six days ago to the “super committee” charged with cutting $1.5 trillion from the federal budget over 10 years.

The St. Joseph Republican spoke to a crowd of close to 200 people at a meeting of the Kalamazoo County Advocates for Senior Issues at the Coover Senior Center. About another 150 people were not allowed in due to space reasons, while some demonstrated outside against Upton and policies he supports.

In the months leading up to the compromise passed by Congress on Aug. 2 that raised the nation’s debt ceiling and averted default, much of the debate focused on raising revenue.

“I don’t think raising taxes, particularly on businesses, is a way to create jobs,” Upton said Monday.
But while he did not comment specifically on how to raise revenue, he said, “I’m not afraid of looking at tax loopholes. Tax reform is long overdue.”

Tax loopholes allowed General Electric to avoid paying taxes in 2010. The company, which made $14.1 billion in 2010, of which $5.1 billion came from the U.S., claimed a tax benefit of $3.2 billion that same year, according to the New York Times.

“I don’t think anybody was happy to see that G.E. didn’t pay any taxes,” Upton said.

While Upton said it might take longer to reform the tax code than the super committee has time for, it will be done in the current Congress.

Upton said it was premature to get into specifics about tax loopholes, since the 12-member “super committee” hadn’t met in person. “I want to see where we can agree,” he said…

And, speaking of the Super Committee on which Upton serves, our friends at the Sunlight Foundation are concerned. It seems that it doesn’t sit so well with them that we’ve created a new entity that operates in secret, “out of the reach of public oversight”. Here, for those of you who are interested, are the five things they would like to see this new deficit reduction committee share with the public.

• Live webcasts of all official meetings and hearings

• The Committee’s report should be posted for 72 hours before a final committee vote

• Disclosure of every meeting held with lobbyists and other powerful interests

• Disclosure of campaign contributions as they are received (on their campaign websites)

• Financial disclosures of Committee members and staffers

Sounds reasonable enough for a Democracy such as ours, doesn’t it?

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8 Comments

  1. Edward
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 9:53 am | Permalink

    I’m not sure how this is going to play out. The whole thing could just be a way for Republicans in congress to get a tax increase through while being able to avoid personal responsibility, in that they could blame it on the 12 members of this Committee. At least I think that’s one hopeful outcome. I don’t think that will be the case, but it’s possible.

  2. Mr. X
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 10:14 am | Permalink

    Here’s a list of others on the Committee:

    Senators: Patty Murray (D-Wash.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.)

    House Representatives: James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), Dave Camp (R-Mich.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.)

  3. Watching Laughing.
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 10:46 am | Permalink

    Might be Republicans think, Michigan is in play for 2012 and have 2 knuckleheads on the committee? Somehow making the state red in 2012?
    Who knows?

    I like Nate Silvers fivethirtyeight.com. He believes the house can flip if turnout is like 06/08 and the 7% Democrat lead over generic Republicans.
    Long way out anything can happen and will.

    Watching Laughing.

  4. Watching Laughing.
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 11:04 am | Permalink

    Also, as I’m sure you know, Ohio and Pennsylvania also have Republicans on the commitees. You have to win2 of these three states to take the white house.
    What is fascinating is, if nothing is compormised. Defense gets CUT BIG. Have fun with that republicans.
    Just have the Bush tax cuts expire and tax anybody over 1/2 a million dollars made, at the old 90s tax rate. GEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ.
    If I made a million dollars, sure, I could spare some more tax money.
    I’m not an ass.

    Republicans of today, plainly suck ass.

    Watching Laughing.

  5. Watching Laughing.
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 11:09 am | Permalink

    Come on, If the Republicans were in the white house right now, they would be saying. “YOU HAVE TO PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE OF TAXES FOR THIS GREAT COUNTRY.”
    It’s unamerican if you don’t want to pitch in more. Man.
    They’d be saying just like they did under BUSH, the deficite doesn’t matter. It’s not a problem.
    Double standard same old BS from Republicans of today.

    Watching Laughing.

  6. Kim
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 12:03 pm | Permalink

    Upton seems to be a decent guy (for a Republican). The following comes from Wikipedia.

    In 2002, Upton faced conservative state senator Dale Shugars in the Republican primary. Shugars ran well to Upton’s right on several issues, especially abortion. However, Upton easily won the primary and defeated Democrat Gary Giguere in the general election. Two years later Upton faced no primary opponent and won the general election against Democrat Scott Elliott, an art gallery owner. In 2006, Upton had no opponent in the Republican primary. In the general election, Upton took 61 percent of the vote, defeating his Democratic challenger Kim Clark. Upton once again had no opponent in the Republican primary in 2008, and defeated Democrat Don Cooney, Libertarian Greg Merle, and Green Reverend Edward Pinkney in the general election. In 2010 Upton was challenged in the Republican primary by former state representative Jack Hoogendyk. Upton won the race with 57% of the vote Hoogendyk’s 43%.

    Upton also promoted the banning of incandescent bulbs in the U.S., in favor of compact fluorescent lamps.

  7. Watching Laughing.
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 12:09 pm | Permalink

    This was until he got a committee chairmanship and the lobbyists hammered him.
    He’s now bought and sold.
    He was a moderate type guy.
    Now, he is just medium level minion taking orders and giving the wing wing corporate nod.

    Watching Laughing.

  8. Watching Laughing.
    Posted August 17, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Permalink

    sorry right wing corporate nod.

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