Washington, Sep 19 -

With leaders of the Democrat-run Congress in the process of developing a second economic stimulus bill, Congressman Patrick McHenry today issued the following statement.

“We must strengthen our economy and create jobs by addressing the energy crisis and making the middle class tax cuts permanent.  It is undeniable that high gas prices are a primary cause of the economic recession.  Last year, we drained $1 trillion out of the American economy by importing 66% of our oil from dangerous and hostile foreign regimes.  And yet the Democrat-run Congress passed a bill this week that effectively blocks offshore drilling and any hope of increasing the production of American oil and natural gas, which would create millions of new jobs in the energy sector.

“Small businesses and middle class families can not afford to pay higher taxes right now.  Increasing taxes now would devastate the economy of Western North Carolina.  That’s why Congress must act to make the small business and middle class tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 permanent.”

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