House Dems Stand with Democrat Budget “Solution”: More Taxes
FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Dan Boren (OK-02), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Jay Inslee (WA-01), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), David Wu (OR-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)
Weak Democrat Budget Plan Raises Taxes Instead of Implementing Real Solutions
Washington — So far, West Virginia Democrat Nick Rahall has been demonstrating a remarkable inability to come forward with viable budget solutions to clean up the mess his party created. For instance, instead of working to undo the failed spending binge they presided over, Rahall and his Democrat leaders are calling for $1.5 trillion in additional job-destroying taxes. In standing alongside them, it seems that Rahall clearly understands the political needs of his Democrat leaders at the expense of his West Virginia constituents who continue to be burdened with record debt levels and high unemployment.
“It seems that Nick Rahall continues to remain stubbornly devoted to the very same job-crushing policies that got us in this mess in the first place,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Most of his West Virginia constituents would be alarmed at yet another $1.5 trillion tax increase, but to Rahall this is simply another opportunity to march along with his Democrat leaders as he has many times before.”
The Democrats’ budget plan only makes the status quo worse, adding $1.5 trillion in new taxes:
“Another $300 billion would come from limiting the ability of the wealthy to take itemized deductions. It would also impose a $30 billion ‘financial crisis responsibility fee’ on banks, a $15 billion tax increase on the ‘carried interest’ paid to investment managers, and rescind a dozen tax breaks for the oil, gas and coal industry to raise more than $46 billion over 10 years.”
(Roger Runningen and Brian Faler, “Obama’s $3.7 Trillion Budget Sets Fight in Congress,” Bloomberg, 2/14/11)And House Democrat leaders have emphasized their support for the job-crushing plan:
Unfortunately Nick Rahall continues to make no indication he will break with his record of marching alongside his Democrat leaders as they continue to tax and spend, rather than bring meaningful fiscal reform on such a crucial issue. As the nation’s finances are increasingly uncertain, surely Rahall’s West Virginia constituents will be paying close attention to his failure to act.