Mr. Boehner is being far too kind in his assessment. In a slap in the face to voters, the lame duck Democratic House passed a bill that would extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone - everyone, that is, except those who the liberals have designated as having enough money already:

The House voted 234-188 Thursday to pass legislation that would extend only some of the expiring Bush-era tax cuts, sending the bill to the Senate.

Twenty Democrats broke with their party and voted against the bill after 33 had defected in a previous test vote. Most of those who voted with Republicans on the first ballot were members of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, and many lost their bids to be reelected last month.

Speaker Pelosi gaveled the vote to a close herself, receiving a smattering of applause from Democratic members. The bill extends only the cuts for the middle-class, letting tax breaks end for families earning more than $250,000 per year and individuals making more than $200,000. Congress originally authorized the cuts in 2001 and 2003.

Three Republicans, Walter Jones (N.C.), Ron Paul (Texas) and John Duncan (Tenn.), voted with Democrats to renew only the middle-class cuts.

Senate Republicans have enough votes to filibuster the proposal, making it highly unlikely it will pass through the upper chamber and onto President Obama's desk.

Aside from the nutty idea of raising taxes on anybody in the middle of a recession, the bill would kill economic activity across a broad front. It appears that Democrats would rather play class warfare games than do what's best for the economy.

With the senate unlikely to act, it will be up to the new congress to extend the tax cuts for all. It appears that the GOP will compromise a bit and make the high bracket tax cut extension a temporary one, but that's better than allowing everyone's taxes to skyrocket next year.

There will be a chance to make them all permanent in 2012 - if the Republicans can take the White House and the senate.