December 09, 2010 12:38 AM UTC

Polis Defends Obama Tax Cut Compromise

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• by: Colorado Pols

THURSDAY UPDATE: Based on Rep. Polis’ vote today against the compromise, this report, which relies on the account of a prominent national blogger, is curious.

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The Colorado Independent’s John Tomasic reports:

Progressive watchdog blogger Jane Hamsher reports that Colorado Congressman Jared Polis argued passionately at a Democratic Congressional caucus meeting Tuesday in favor of the White House deal with GOP leaders to temporarily extend Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans in exchange for an extension of middle class tax breaks as well as some but not all unemployment insurance benefits.

Yet Congressional staffers told the Colorado Independent that Polis, like many other members of the caucus, has not made up his mind on the deal and won’t do so until the legislation appears in writing for genuine consideration.

Because Polis is a multi-millionaire and will benefit to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars directly from the deal as so far presented, he has been the target of ire. Hamsher specifically asked readers to contact him and ask him why he’s willing to sell out the so-called 99ers, the unemployed whose benefits will run out at the end of December and for whom the deal does nothing…

Polis, however, has campaigned on and supported over the course of years the middle class tax cuts. He is no champion of the Bush tax cuts on millionaires.

Rep. Jared Polis’ support for the tax cut compromise, if accurately retold by liberal blogger Jane Hamsher, puts him at odds with fellow Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, who joined Sen. Mark Udall yesterday denouncing the proposed deal. And let’s be honest: after watching Polis join with Republicans to attack the health care reform bill over taxes on the wealthy, you can’t claim to really be surprised by this, whether you agree with him or not.