Read @ Washington Post - PlumLine by Greg Sargent

As you know, John Boehner made big news yesterday on CBS when he seemed to allow that he would support it if Dems held a vote on whether to extend just the tax cuts of those who make less than $250,000.

And that's certainly interesting. But there's another key claim Boehner made that also deserves some attention: He seemed to allow that the income of only three percent of small business people would be impacted if the Bush tax cuts for the rich expire.

I hear Dems are getting ready to jump on this part of Boehner's interview. They're going to argue that it undercuts the claim of many Republicans that extending the tax cuts for the rich would have an adverse impact on many small businesses, creating widespread uncertainty for them.

In the exchange, Bob Schieffer of CBS asked Boehner to respond to a recent report by the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation finding the three percent figure. And then...

BOB SCHIEFFER: Do you quarrel with that figure? Is that a right figure or a wrong figure?

BOEHNER: Well, it may be three percent, but it's half of small business income. Because, obviously, the top three percent have half of the gross income for those companies that we would term small businesses. And this is why you don't want to punish these people at a time when you have a weak economy.

Boehner's camp will argue that this isn't a concession at all. After all, he reiterated the claim that half of small business income will be impacted, creating a drag on investment and innovation in a weak economy.

But Dems will counter that this only proves their point -- most of the small business income that would be impacted by ending the tax cuts for the rich is concentrated in the hands of a tiny group of people. Look for this to become part of the Dem argument -- and part of the ongoing White House and Dem offensive against Boehner -- as the skirmish over the tax cuts heats up.

UPDATE, 11:16 a.m.: Boehner spokesman Michael Steel responds without directly addressing the three percent figure:

Continues @ Washington Post - PlumLine by Greg Sargent

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So, all they are doing is trying to protect the interests of the big companies. Go figure!

While we are on the subject, I noted with interest (by rewinding and watching an advertisement) that the TV advertisement that plays most often on the TV talking about taxes hurting small businesses has a tiny disclosure in the end on who sponsored it: Petroleum Manufacturers Association.  That helped make up my mind.  I'll favor letting those tax breaks expire.  While it may hurt me a bit, it will really get a lot more money from the big companie that have been sitting on huge profits.. like those Petroleum Manufacturers...

-- Edited by Sanders on Monday 13th of September 2010 09:20:41 PM