Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL):
“Parents are yet another group of Americans with more money in their pocketbooks after the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. They join middle class married couples, investors, hourly wage-earners, small businesses owners, and all workers who pay an income tax as Americans who have received tax relief from House Republican policies.
“Under the 2001 tax cuts, Republicans increased the amount a family can claim for each child up to $1,000. If a Democrat-controlled Congress allowed these tax cuts to expire in 2010, families can expect to pay up to an additional $500 per child.
“Unfortunately, Democrat Minority Leader and many of her colleagues have opposed giving families a child tax credit not once but at least 16 times. Given the opportunity, a Democrat controlled-Congress will likely vote to raise taxes on families again, but this time they’ll win.”
House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH):
“Republicans have worked to provide tax relief to parents with children and put more money back into their own wallets – right where it belongs. While Democrats have consistently opposed providing greater tax relief for American families, Republicans have doubled the child tax credit to help ease the burden on parents and the added expenses they face with raising a family. The fact is if the Democrats had their way and let the child tax credit expire, the average family of four would face a tax increase of $1,000 a year. Republicans want to make the $1,000 per child tax credit permanent, not let it expire, and this will be a major GOP priority in the next Congress.”
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO):
“Left to their own devices, Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats would repeal the child tax credit, raising taxes on more than 27 million parents who are working hard to save for their children’s educations, put food on the table, plan family vacations and pay other bills.
“One thousand dollars per child might not be much to Nancy Pelosi, but it makes a big difference to many other mothers, fathers and grandparents in America.
“Republicans and Democrats fundamentally disagree on the issue of tax relief. Republicans know parents make the best choices about how to spend money on their children, not the federal government.”
House Republican Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce (R-OH):
“Over the past few years, Republicans have built a record of tax relief that has allowed millions of Americans to keep more of their hard-earned money. In 2001, we acted to help millions of American families by doubling the child tax credit – from $500 to $1,000. Raising a child is expensive work, and America’s families deserve all the help we can give them. Unfortunately, Democrats have indicated that they want to allow the increased child tax credit to expire, resulting in tax hikes on millions of American families. If the Democrats had their way, the child tax credit would be reduced, and the average family of four would face a tax increase of $1,000 a year.
“America’s families face enough challenges without burdening them with debilitating tax increases. House Republicans are committed to protecting America’s families by making the increased child tax credit permanent.”
House Republican Conference Vice-Chairman Jack Kingston (R-GA):
“Democrats have said there is not one of the Bush tax cuts that merits renewal. Included in that is something that millions of Americans depend on: the child tax credit. We have increased that credit from $500 per child to $1,000 per child and in the process brought much needed relief to hard working families. Along with penalizing small business owners, married couples and the average worker, now Democrats want to add more taxes to parents. At this rate, the only thing that will escape their tax increases is the family dog.”
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA):
“Republicans have led the effort to enact tax relief that is benefiting millions of Americans. It’s expensive to raise a family and the child credit is one more way to ensure families keep more of their hard-earned resources for their daily needs.
“Democrats won’t commit to preserving these expiring tax provisions – which could mean big tax hikes for families down the road.”
###