Congress will not give what the American people want: Analyst

The majority of Americans want “universal health care, taxing the very wealthy, end to endless wars,” but Congress will not give them what they want, according to American political analyst Myles Hoenig.

According to a report, US President Joe Biden has backtracked on a 2020 campaign promise to increase taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

The White House told Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday that a proposed hike in US corporate taxes is unlikely to make it into their signature social spending bill, a congressional source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

The White House disclosed in the private meeting with top Democrats that President Joe Biden's plans to hike the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, a key campaign promise.

"There is an expansive menu of options for how to finance the president's plan to ensure our economy delivers for hardworking families, and none of them are off the table," said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates.

Biden, who framed the 2020 election against Republican then-President Donald Trump as one between working-class Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Manhattan's Park Avenue, pitched the tax hike as an effort to make sure the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. Trump and congressional Republicans cut corporate rates to 21% from 35% in 2017.

Biden backtracks on promise to increase taxes on wealthy and corporations: Report

The White House told Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday that a proposed hike in US corporate taxes is unlikely to make it into their signature social spending bill,.

“Campaign promises are only fodder for the campaigns, rarely meant to be realized, unless it’s a promise to do harm,” Hoenig commented to Press TV.  

“That’s why wars are fought, women’s rights are curtailed and restricted, and voting rights eviscerated. Paying for war? Paying for universal health care? Paying for desperately needed infrastructure repair? Easy answers. Make the billionaires and multi-millionaires pay their fair share, close tax loopholes, and drastically cut military spending is the easy answer for all of us, just not for those whose careers in Congress are dependent on the corporations that keep us all struggling just to break even,” he stated.

“The reason given by the Biden camp is that compromise means no one gets what they want, but that only refers to the American people, not the entitled members of Congress. Senator Manchin fights climate control legislation and funding because his millions come from the coal industry. Congressman Clyburn fights against universal health care because he receives the most campaign funds from that industry. Both are ‘Democrats’. The Republicans are far more honest and open in their support of corporate power, anti-women, and pro-police (except for the Capitol Police). Congress does get what it wants,” he added.

“The majority of Americans want universal health care, taxing the very wealthy, end to endless wars, etc. If our political leaders agree, they would make it happen. Manchin won’t support the infrastructure bill? Close military bases in West Virginia and relocate them to other states," he said.

"McConnell opposes everything Democrats push for, even when they are Republican-type bills? End all federal procurement contracts in Kentucky. Clyburn opposes Medicare for All? Make him persona non grata at the White House. (Can’t take him away from his Whip position as the House Majority Leader Pelosi also opposes universal health care.) But none of this is going to happen since it’s the corporations who contribute to campaigns who set the agenda in Washington,” he noted.

“The days of arm twisting by presidents like Johnson are long gone. Clinton’s approach was to pit everyone against each other (triangulation). Obama simply gave in to nearly everything the Republicans wanted. The Republican presidents didn’t have to twist arms as the Republican agenda was mostly adopted by both parties,” he said.

“President Biden’s position is probably the weakest of any president since Jimmy Carter. His numbers are down. Circumstances beyond his control are out of control. And the 2022 off year elections are energizing the rabid Trump supporters in and out of Congress,” he concluded.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk