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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH SUPPORTS FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE TAX RELIEF

Votes for Needed Tax Relief That Doesn’t Pass Along Billions in Debt to South Dakota’s Children

December 8, 2005, Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth this week supported a range of tax provisions that gives significant tax relief to South Dakota families and businesses, while at the same time doesn’t break the bank or mortgage our nation’s future. This afternoon, Herseth voted for a tax package that extends a number of relief provisions important to South Dakotans, including the state and local sales tax deduction, the research credit, and, importantly, provides relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for middle class families. Earlier this week, Herseth supported additional tax relief legislation focused on hurricane recovery and military pay.

Herseth, a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrat coalition, said, “Hardworking South Dakota families and businesses deserve not only tax relief, but real tax reform that simplifies our tax code. I am proud to have supported these proposals to provide that relief, while at the same time ensuring that we can meet the ongoing needs of our military and relief for Hurricane victims. And I am hopeful that we can move forward over the next year to achieve reform of our tax system, much of which has become incomprehensible.”

Herseth continued, “As a Blue Dog Democrat, I support fiscally responsible legislation that pays for itself. If we want to spend more, or cut taxes, we must have offsets so that we are keeping our budget in balance. Just because it is Christmas time doesn’t mean we can give presents we can’t afford.”

Also today, Herseth voted against a fiscally reckless bill that adds $56 billion to the deficit, provides the bulk of its relief to taxpayers making over $1 million annually, and includes inadequate AMT relief for middle income taxpayers. That bill ultimately passed, 234-197. Herseth said, “We are at war. Our Gulf Coast has been devastated. We aren’t meeting the needs of rural America and rural families. And our national debt is over $8 trillion dollars. We can find a better way to provide significant tax relief while not shortchanging our soldiers or leaving families out in the cold during the winter.”

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Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth serves South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.  She is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of moderate Democrats committed to fiscal discipline and strong national security, and is co-chair of the Rural Working Group, which is dedicated to raising the profile of issues important to rural America.  She also serves on three committees vital to South Dakota’s interests:  Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and Resources.