Debbie Bosanek – the famously overtaxed and underpaid secretary of billionaire Warren Buffett will make her national debut Tuesday night as she joins First Lady Michelle Obama in her box to watch the President deliver the State of the Union Address. Her appearance all but guarantees the president will spend a substantial portion of the speech (campaigning) discussing the inequities of the current tax system.
Debbie Bosanek, who has worked for Buffett for nearly two decades, has become a symbol in the White House’s fight over the tax code and economic fairness. Obama is expected to renew his push for the so-called “Buffett rule” that would bring investment taxation levels into line with income taxation levels — and ensure that upper income earners pay rates as high as middle-class Americans.
I know I’ve said this before, but I really don’t get the whole Warren Buffett’s secretary is taxed at a higher rate than Warren Buffett business on any level. If the guy thinks her pay/tax burden is so offensive, why the hell doesn’t he just pay her in the same manner in which he is paid? And if it’s really about Buffett not paying enough in taxes, why the hell doesn’t he simply cut a check to make up the difference?
Another PR stunt.
The secretary in the box was a PR stunt too.
So get this: Buffett promised to match Republican contributions to pay down the national debt. One Republican ponied up $29,000 or 15% of his congressional salary. The guy is worth up to $36 million, so $29K isn’t going to hurt him.
But here’s the thing: Buffett’s net worth is 1000 times that of this Republican. If Buffett really wants to “match” Republican contributions, he should write a check for $29,000,000 to the Treasury. Since Buffett is in favor of progressive taxes, maybe he ought to match 2000 to 1.
Buffett is a blow-hard. In the very same speech where he supported the reinstatement of the estate tax, he pledged a fortune to the Gates Foundation to avoid just such a tax.