Under the guise of stimulating the economy, liberal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, is crafting a mammoth new spending bill with tax increases. The so-called Democrat economic stimulus will do more to stimulate big government than to kick-start a struggling economy. For sure, if her big tax and spend plan is not voted on in the remaining months, it will be top of her agenda in 2009.

Last week, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testified before the U.S. House Budget Committee that Washington could best help the national economy through steps to spur job creation. He warned against any plans to increase taxes as they would have the effect of sinking an already weak economy.

Also last week, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA., revealed the intention of the liberal House leadership to "immediately increase" government spending and that "there should be tax increases." In classic liberal fashion, he was quick to clarify that House Democrats only intend to raise taxes on the "very rich." Yet, the Democrat-led House has already shown they have no problem taking more hard-earned money from just about everybody. Let's look at their record.

While telling us they wanted to end tax breaks for the wealthy, last March the liberal House passed the largest tax increase in U.S. history. Their budget essentially scuttles the beneficial middle class tax relief that was enacted in 2001 and 2003. Congressional Democrats have voted to let these tax reductions expire in two years. Truth is, they cannot wait to get their hands on the extra money these tax increases will funnel to Washington.

Think the liberals are not out to grab your wallet to finance their bigger government spending? Think again. If you have children under age 18, you will likely see your child tax credit reduced from $1,000 to $500 - a tax increase of $500. If you are married and both of you work, you've also likely benefitted from the marriage penalty relief that was enacted in 2001 which stopped unfair over-taxation of working couples. But, come 2011, look out! The liberal House says "you're rich!" And they're going to eliminate the 2001 marriage penalty relief. That's not all.

Back in 2001, the former Republican Congress dropped the bottom federal income tax rate from 15 to 10 percent - effectively reducing federal taxes for millions of lower income taxpayers. Guess what? Thanks to House liberals some of these "rich" folks in the 10 percent bracket will see their tax rate rise to 15 percent. And there's more, like an increase in taxes on capital gains and dividends, affecting millions of investors, including seniors, as well as the return of the death tax which hits family businesses particularly hard. The total impact could mean a $2,556 tax hike for the average Alabama taxpayer.

In contrast, House Republicans want to keep the 2001 and 2003 tax relief in place, benefitting working Americans and the economy. Furthermore, we support the "All-of-the-Above" American Energy Act to promote greater fuel supplies at home, and we advocate additional tax incentives to help business expand and hire more workers. The landmark tax relief of 2001 and 2003 helped to lift our then sagging economy back to robust growth. The last thing our nation needs now are Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Frank's job-killing tax increases.