Brit Hume: C’mon conservatives, that fiscal cliff bill cuts taxes

Does the crap sandwich passed by the US Senate early this morning raise taxes or cut them? It all depends on how you look at it.

Fox News’ Brit Hume says the bill cuts taxes. That is to say, it extends the Bush-era income tax cuts to taxpayers earnings $400,000 per year or less. In making this argument, Hume is echoing Grover Norquist, who told the Washington Post editorial board last year that “Not continuing a tax cut is not technically a tax increase.”

If you don’t follow the Hume/Norquist logic, read that sentence again: ”Not continuing a tax cut is not technically a tax increase.”

Hume’s Fox News colleague Chad Pergram, on the other hand, says the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill will result in $620 billion in new tax hikes:

Colleague Ed Henry says CBO indicates #fiscalcliff bill has $620 billion in new tax hikes. $15 billion in spending cuts.—
Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 01, 2013

So which Fox News guy is right? Does it really matter?

@brithume Semantics!—
Bludworth (@bludworth) January 01, 2013

Whether you call them tax cuts or tax increases, our taxes are going up. And the crap sandwich passed by the US Senate this morning does nearly nothing to reduce federal spending.

@brithume No Brit we do understand But where are the spending cuts? How does this help cut the debt? There has to be at least 4 to 1 spd rev—
Richard (@Rgator904) January 01, 2013

@brithume You are wrong. Payroll tax increases on all. You are a fool if you don't see this.—
NCLibertyWarrior (@nc_liberty) January 01, 2013

@brithume Same drivel the senateusing to try and look good. Taxes DID go up from what they were yesterday! Quit drinking the kool aid, Brit!—
Randy Scroggins (@RandyScroggins) January 01, 2013

@brithume and does absolutely nothing to address spending—
Joe Q (@JoeQuizza) January 01, 2013

It seems to us that “many on the right” have a very good understanding of the situation.

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