Don't Mess With Taxes

The old saying about not wanting to see how the sausage is made applies perfectly to our federal legislative system. Whether you love the eventual outcome or find the resulting laws completely unpalatable, the process tends to be nauseating.

Well now there's word that Capitol Hill is going to shut down its legislative sausage factory, at least when it comes to some critical taxes.

That will mean voters won't have a clear idea of their future tax rates when they go to the polls.

This will really help with the anti-incumbent sentiment. Not!

Does this mean that the tax extenders that many individuals and their tax advisers are wondering about will be pushed to the brink, too? And let's not even get into the morass that is the now-nonexistent federal estate tax.

Remember: Not making a decision is a decision.

And putting off decisions until the very last minute (a la the homebuyer extension) often make for very bad laws.

I understand there's recalcitrance from the GOP, but really, folks. This is starting to get beyond the absurd.

To borrow a phrase, can't we all just get along and act like adults and professionals? 

It's so sad that apparently there are no longer any statesmen or women in Washington, D.C.

Related posts:

• Homebuyer tax credit extended
• Extenders package fails in Senate again
• Sen. Robert Byrd's tax, budget legacy
• A 'responsible' estate tax
• Today's taxes aren't too bad
• Congressional tax wrap-up

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