Discussing George W. Bush’s proposed economic stimulus package this morning from the podium at the A.B.N.Y. breakfast at the Sheraton, Charlie Rangel shied away from saying outright that he would discontinue the Bush tax cuts when they expire in 2010.
"As most of you know, there seems to be a lot of concern about whether or not the tax cuts of President Bush will be extended" he said. "Well, people have asked me, as Chairman of the [House Ways and Means] Committee, do we plan to extend these tax cuts in 2010?
"And I remind them–David Dinkins, who’s older than me–that at 78 years old, I don’t buy green bananas," he went on. "And so I don’t know what’s going to happen in 2010."
Then Rangel, who is a long-time supporter of Hillary Clinton, said, "And after seeing the great fights on the screen last night at the Democratic debate, I don’t know what is going to happen in 2008."
He finished, "But having said that, it would seem to me that when we take a look back, not only did Hillary Clinton find her voice, but it seems like Chairman Greenspan has found his voice in saying that we should not have had those cuts unless what? Unless they were paid for."
