While negotiations continued to extend all tax cuts supported by President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2003, the U.S. House extended some of those cuts Thursday. The measure passed with 234 votes, 188 congressmen opposing it.
With all 42 Republicans in the U.S. Senate vowing to oppose any measure that does not extend the tax cuts to all Americans, the bill looks unlikely to pass the Senate.
Democrats led by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California pounded Republicans for looking to offer tax breaks for the wealthy while ignoring middle-class Americans.
People need the money, said Pelosi during the debate Thursday. They spend it immediately for necessity. It injects demand into the economy. It creates jobs to help reduce the deficit. Giving $700 billion to the wealthiest people in America does add $700 billion to the deficit. And the record and history show it does not create jobs. It does not create jobs.
I mention this because it is the context in which we bring up this tax cut for middle-income families in America today, continued Pelosi. And while some on the other side say this is not going to make a difference, it indeed makes a difference. Let me say unequivocally, there will be no tax bill for any situation unless there is a tax cut for middle-income people in our country. That is what this vote is about today. That is our declaration. That is what we send to the table for the discussion that the president has so rightfully called for.
Florida Republicans fired back, arguing that Democrats were backing raising taxes during a period of economic crisis.
Raising taxes on millions of small-business employers at a time when unemployment remains at 9.6 percent nationally and much higher locally shows a lack of understanding of basic economics, said U.S. Rep. Bill Posey. This tax increase simply makes no sense. Washington should be focused on creating a more competitive economic environment so businesses of all sizes can grow and add jobs. This bill does the opposite by depriving entrepreneurs and business owners of additional capital which is necessary to compete and expand.
Posey said the Democrats should not have brought up the measure while there were still negotiations on extending the tax cuts.
Bringing this bill up for a vote while these negotiations are ongoing just smells of the type of politics-as-usual that Americans are fed up with, said Posey. This bill should have been brought to the floor for consideration under an open amendment process. Had that been allowed, broader tax relief would have likely been approved.
"I have yet to hear about a single private-sector job created due to a tax increase," concluded Posey.
Today, the Democratic leadership in the House stifled our nations economic recovery by raising taxes on Americas hard-working families and job creators, said Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack. The Democrats political posturing at a time when our nation is trying to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression is astounding.
Its a simple concept: Allow Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money, and they will reinvest it back into their businesses and the economy, added Mack. But sadly, the Democrats in Congress just dont seem to get it.The American people deserve better.
Jan. 1 looms large for families and small businesses facing the prospect of massive tax hikes, said U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. The package put forth today penalizes employers, kills jobs, and further weakens our sluggish economy. Congress has created incredible uncertainty that has led countless employers to delay hiring and expansion. Its a dead end on our nations road to recovery.
When news broke Thursday morning that the House was going to vote on the measure, Republican Rep. Tom Rooney came out swinging at the measure, insisting it would lead to his district losing almost 1,600 jobs in the next 10 years and could cost $1.6 billion in taxes.
Lets be clear: This is a vote to raise taxes on small businesses. Despite near double-digit unemployment nationwide and higher rates in Florida, Democrats are looking to kill even more jobs with this massive tax hike, said Rooney. Americans are tired of a Democratic Congress and administration that hold small-business owners and job-creators in contempt. The federal government doesnt create jobs, businesses do, but they cant grow under the threat of a tax hike.
We need to stop all tax hikes and give our small businesses the stability they need to expand and create jobs, added Rooney. If the lame-duck Congress wont stand with small-business owners and job-seekers during the lame-duck session, the new majority will act in January.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
