McDermott, Inslee working to prevent House vote on tax rate compromise

Washington Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Jay Inslee (D-WA) do not want Speaker Pelosi to bring the tax rate compromise bill to the floor of the House for a vote.

In short, the two Washington liberals want taxes raised on everyone because they object to upper income earners - the very earners who invest and start business that hire Washington workers - keeping some of their own money.

Fox News reports the two members are working on a letter with Peter DeFazio (D-OR) to present to the House Democratic Caucus.

The letter reportedly asks Pelosi to not bring the measure up for a vote. 

The plan is to get 60 signatures on the letter, reportedly still being drafted, and then force a vote in the caucus. DeFazio says the bill should not be brought to the floor if a majority of House Democrats agree to the letter.

If Democrats refuse to bring this compromise to the floor of the House, taxes will increase for everyone and unemployment benefits will not be extended for those who need them.  In short, House Democrats face the real prospect of becoming the "Caucus of No", ruining Christmas for all Americans.

In announcing the compromise, President Obama said:

"I am not willing to let working families across this country become collateral damage for political warfare here in Washington," he said. "The American people didn't send us here to wage symbolic battles or win symbolic victories."

But apparently, two of Washington's liberal House members disagree. 

DeFazio told Fox News:

"There does not seem to be a majority of the Democrats who support the deal negotiated by Vice President Biden," DeFazio said. "So we want to have a record vote in the caucus on a resolution that says this resolution should not go to the floor without a majority of Democratic votes."

Earlier, House Democrats voted on a tax measure using a procedure that prevented any amendments from the GOP, a move called "chicken crap" by incoming Speaker John Boehner.

The compromise has been blasted by both parties - Democrats hate it because it lets some Americans keep a bit of their own money and some Republicans dislike it because of the 13 month unemployment extension and the high cost of the bill.

In an ironic twist, some Democrats, like Charlie Rangel (D-NY) balked at the size and cost of the bill, but did not seem to have such qualms when voting on a 2,000+ page health care bill they never read.

Echoing the concerns of some conservatives, White House advisor David Axelrod told Fox News the typical family would face a $3,000 annual tax increase if the deal did not pass, and warned the economy could "fall backward" without the compromise.