John Fleming, GOP Congressman, Blasts Obama Over Buffett Rule: I Can't Afford A Tax Hike

Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) appeared on MSNBC Monday morning to express opposition to President Barack Obama's deficit reduction plan, which includes a proposal to raise taxes on the wealthy.

Fleming charged that the plan is a terrible idea which kills jobs provided by wealthy "job creators" who pay personal income taxes. When asked about his business ventures -- including his role in a number of Subway restaurants and UPS stores -- from which he earned $6.3 million last year, Fleming told MSNBC host Chris Jansing that his business expenses left him with little to tax "by the time I feed my family."

Fleming told Jansing that the $6.3 million is "before you pay 500 employees, you pay rent, you pay equipment and food."

"The actual net income of that was a mere fraction of that amount."

“By the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over," Fleming said.

Jansing pointed out that to a person making $40,000 or $50,000 per year, making $400,000 annually is "not exactly a sympathetic position," but Fleming responded by calling his success a "virtue" and noting that “class warfare has never created a job."

"This is all about creating jobs," Fleming said. "This is not about attacking people who make certain incomes."

Comments

[thelumynosity]

04:00 PM on 10/08/2011

Yes it is about you attacking the people that make a low income, federal employees for their income, government employees that collect pensions, and the people that collect welfare for their income or lack of income, etc.. Or if all the above deserve their income. He act like if he were a victim. Let's the one that earn less pay taxes for me, I am successful why should I pay taxes.

[historian1960]

07:56 AM on 09/30/2011

Further evidence the gopee has made greed, selfishness and being dismissive of others official policy. Now, the question is why so many voters still identify with these disingenuous charlatans....

[JTyroler]

05:26 PM on 09/26/2011

It must be incredibly tough to be a Republican congressman. After Congressman Fleming has fed his family, he only has about enough money left over for 19 families of 4 to live at the poverty level. Since I'm on Social Security, it will only take me about 25 years to earn that much money. Perhaps he can compare notes with Rep. Joe Walsh who can't support his family on $174,000 per year. Of course, that's not counting any money he might make for doing any of those things that members of Congress do to make extra money.

[lindalawrence]

01:21 AM on 09/24/2011

Yes.... of course! Anyone that feels entitled to keep the money they earn is greedy. What is it with socialist democrats that makes them think that they are owed something.. Its just sad.

[thelumynosity]

04:09 PM on 10/08/2011

It is being out of touch. When many people such as JTyroler and many folks in the country have limited income he complain about earning $400,000. But people like Fleming does not understand that if the people's economic situation improve he will earn more money. in their businesses. When people's life improve everybody prosper. Greed is the downfall of our society.

[Nina Wolfson]

03:22 PM on 09/23/2011

Like the rest of his phenomenally out of touch GOP colleagues...Tone deaf and greed driven.

[McAttorney]

12:30 PM on 09/23/2011

Since his money comes primarly from Subway franchises, that $400,000 could purchase 220 $5 foot-longs a day to feed his family....

[tleon12265]

01:48 PM on 09/24/2011

They're going to have some leftovers.

[mrshep]

11:56 PM on 10/11/2011

The 400,000 is what he has left after feeding his family and all other expenses. He starts out with 6.3 million and after he has paid all his business expenses and household expenses, he has 400,000 that he can do anything he wants with. Talk about being out of touch with the middle class.

[Two4smitty]

08:36 PM on 09/22/2011

How completely out of touch are these people? It is obvious he does not understand how the tax would work as he would not be taxed on the $6 million, nor even on the entire $400,000, but on whatever amount is in excess of the amount set. As in one amount mentioned was $250,000. If they raise it to a half mil, or a million, he has nothing to worry about.

If he keeps this up, all of you in Louisiana need to start a boycott of his Subway stores in order to bring him back to reality. Just like we should all do to Home Depot.

[HaroldHeckubah]

08:17 PM on 09/22/2011

Poor Congressman Fleming, hope this makes you feel better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFA90A2-Hec&feature=related

[Carla Zinn]

05:34 PM on 09/22/2011

Fleming would be considred a small business. And his businesses already get subsidized by tax dollars with the ag business. Stop all the corporate welfare and we will see who really is creating wealth! No these big corporations give themselves big bucks that directly come from the food, defense, and tax loopholes.
Also, Fleming is one of the people who would just have to not have all the perks, private schools, housekeepers, large homes (though he gets tax deductions for this and all his biz expenses. Does he own a jet? I know he has run a website trying to get people to vote against the health care and send him donations on line.

[Boopsie2008]

05:24 PM on 09/22/2011

Boy, I am just crying big crocodile tears for poor Mr. $400,000 per year, here. Plenty of people can manage that annual income to have a very high qulity of life while socking away most of it in the bank.

Yeh. He can afford to pay a little more. *Sob*

[Carla Zinn]

05:36 PM on 09/22/2011

yes, the article says that the $400K is after his personal expenses. That's his profit! So does he pay 30% on that? Bet not? Ask him!

[MSPEABS]

04:56 PM on 09/22/2011

Congressman Fleming has a very strange business. He claims that his group of restaurants produce 6.3 million dollars last year. He has 500 employees, that works out to about $12,600 per employee, not counting for the other expenses to run the business. Not bad for him, not so great for his employees. And with 30 some restaurants, that would mean each location grosses $210,000. That's not much of a business, or he is not much of a businessman. I wonder if that 6.3 million is his net income, after all expenses.

[Jamf]

04:52 PM on 09/22/2011

I'm getting all teary-eyed thinking about Rep. Fleming's hardship. It's tough all over, ain't it? And speaking of hardships, here's the (bribe) list of Fleming's benefactors / enablers / patrons / owners.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00029679&type=I

[DeltaYankeeTango]

04:48 PM on 09/22/2011

Another gift from the voters of Louisiana. I live here, and it's embarrasing.

[sippewissett]

04:20 PM on 09/22/2011

What a tin ear this jerk has. With almost 10% of Americans out of work, he flaunts his $400K salary as inadequate? Maybe he should get out of Congress then and go back to the private sector. Please.

[Jamf]

04:54 PM on 09/22/2011

You're absolutely right...except for the "almost 10%" part. When we factor in those who have dropped off the rolls, and those who are only marginally employed, we're talking about a much higher number. And it's trending up, not down.

[jbmorgen1]

04:13 PM on 09/22/2011

Maybe he is in the wrong business, or he has poor management skills, or he has poor managing staff, but he can't afford to live off of $400,000 USD is unbelievable. I would be quite happy to have $400,000 USD a year income, I can get easily get by with that sum.

[pnllsprkf]

04:44 PM on 09/22/2011

you didn"t pay attention he only had $400,000 LEFT AFTER HE PAID BILLS AND FED HIS FAMILY--this is totally disgusting to be so selfish in this time of need that so many have

[jack Winn]

07:16 PM on 09/22/2011

why else would he be a Republican?

[jbmorgen1]

09:21 PM on 09/22/2011

I did paid attention, but still $400,000 is a lot of money. But to you paid attention to my post--I guess not?