Orrin Hatch basically just accused the Republicans of voting for a tax increase

Hatch's convoluted logic is that anyone who votes for a temporary tax cut - i.e., a tax cut that only exists for a set period of time, and then sunsets - is really voting for a tax increase.

Hatch rejected another compromise idea that has been floated of extending the lower tax rates for so-called middle class Americans permanently, while only temporarily continuing the discounted rates for wealthier Americans.

"That's a tax increase plain and simple that would be used to fund more Washington spending and would discourage private sector job growth," he said.

Well, George Bush's tax cuts, that were specifically designed to sunset at the end of this year, were therefore tax increases according to Orrin Hatch.  Here's the sunset provision in the Bush tax cuts of 2001.

SEC. 901. SUNSET OF PROVISIONS OF ACT.

(a) IN GENERAL- All provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act shall not apply--
(1) to taxable, plan, or limitation years beginning after December 31, 2010, or
(2) in the case of title V, to estates of decedents dying, gifts made, or generation skipping transfers, after December 31, 2010.
(b) APPLICATION OF CERTAIN LAWS- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 shall be applied and administered to years, estates, gifts, and transfers described in subsection (a) as if the provisions and amendments described in subsection (a) had never been enacted.

And wouldn't you know it, Orrin Hatch voted for that Bush tax increase back in 2001.

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