George LeMieux Defends Tax Cut Deal

On Tuesday, outgoing Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux defended the deal with President Barack Obama to extend tax cuts backed by George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003 for all Americans.

Families in Florida and our nation continue to face severe economic challenges, said LeMieux, who is considering running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. Voting against the tax relief bill would be a vote to raise taxes when our citizens are suffering, and I will not saddle Floridians with the burden of higher taxes. The tax relief bill stops the Jan. 1 tax hike and I intend to vote for it, but this compromise product is not without significant failings. In exchange for avoiding a tax increase, Washingtons politics-as-usual style of brokering has produced a bill that adds billions in deficit spending. Congress first order of business next session should be an across-the-board spending cap. Unless our federal governments spending is reined in, our national debt will threaten the prosperity of our people and the continuation of our Republic.