Unit Five: Public Policy

“House Passes GOP Small Business Tax Cut”

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/19/politics/house-tax-vote/index.html

Synopsis: The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a small business tax cut bill. The bill would provide deductions to companies with less than five hundred employees that would be worth up to 20% of their income. Republicans insisted that the bill would help to boost the economy. The Democrats opposed the bill because they thought that it was “a deficit-busting giveaway to the wealthy.” The bill hardly has a chance of making it through the Democrat controlled Senate and even if it does it will most likely be vetoed.

Analysis: This article illustrates not only the workings of Congress, but it also represents the two different party platforms. For example, Republicans are known for their support of tax cuts and their hatred of raising taxes. This bill illustrates this because Republicans are advocating the tax cuts to small business owners. This article also shows how even though a bill passes through the House of Representatives it does not guarantee that it will become a law. This bill has to pass through the Senate where it is put into another committee to be dissected and amended. Then it goes to the floor to be debated on. If it does pass a vote in the Senate then the President has to sign it or veto it. Finally, this article is an example of divided government. Right now the House of Representatives is controlled by Republicans and the White House and Senate are controlled by the Democrats. This bill does not have Democratic support so it will most likely die in the Senate.