Dear Friends,

            Many of you may have heard about Congressman Charlie Rangel’s (D-NY) plan, H.R. 3870, which would result in the largest tax hike in American history.  Do not let the rhetoric fool you – the tax hike will effect almost every income tax bracket. 

            The Joint Committee on Taxation released a report that estimates that most households making less than $75,000 a year will experience a tax increase.  Most families making $20,000 to $50,000 a year — about 41 million families — will pay $32 billion more in taxes in 2011, according to the analysis.

            I do not support a tax increase during a time when middle-class families are experiencing increased expenses due to rising gas prices, healthcare costs, and the price of education.  The Majority Party should be focusing on how to ease these costs, not add to them.  My first priority is the family budget, not padding the government general fund with hard-earned taxpayer dollars.

            The Treasury Department recently announced a dramatic decrease in the federal deficit, from a projected $250 billion for Fiscal Year 2007 to the actual year end amount of $157 billion.  The federal government should capitalize on the decrease and take further steps to balance the budget in five years or sooner.  Instead, the Majority Party would rather collect more for their coffers to provide services for illegal immigrants while delaying funding for our veterans. 

            If the Majority Party successfully raises taxes on the typical American taxpayer, our economy will most certainly experience a severe downturn.  Rest assured, I will fight the tax increase and continue to support permanently repealing the death tax, the marriage penalty tax and lowering the tax burden on all families.

I welcome your input as I understand this is an issue that is important to the constituents of the 44^th Congressional District of California. 

Sincerely,

KEN CALVERT
Member of Congress