“Republicans are holding 12 million children hostage and will not set them free until they get their way – more reckless tax breaks. If any one still questioned whether the House Republican Leadership had an extreme agenda, today’s actions should forever remove any lingering doubt,” Schakowsky said.”

Schakowsky expressed disgust with the House Republican Leadership for approving an $82 billion reckless tax break in place of the already passed $10.1 billion Senate bill that would immediately restore the child tax credit to 6.5 million families who make between $10,500 and $26,625.  The Senate passed the child tax credit provision 94-2.

“Playing politics with the needs of working families and their children is not uncommon for the Republican House Leadership.  They approved a bill knowing full well it was not acceptable to the Senate and that it will delay assistance to poor working families and military families,” Schakowsky said.  

“The American people will not stand for this delay,” Schakowsky added.

Last month, Republicans removed a provision that would have provided increased child credit to low-income families during final closed-door negotiations on the tax bill recently signed by President Bush.   Republicans, however, chose to leave alone other provisions that provide millionaires with thousands of dollars in tax relief.  For example, according to a report by the Committee on Government Reform minority staff, Treasury Secretary John Snow's estimated dividend and capital tax savings is between $331,000 and $842,000.