CONGRESSMAN BOB LATTA DELIVERS HOUSE GOP WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS

Friday, April 18, 2008

Washington, DC --

House GOP Weekly Radio Address
Rep. Bob Latta (OH-05)
Friday, April 18, 2008

http://www.gop.gov/web/guest/weekly_radio_address

Hi. This is Congressman Bob Latta, and I represent Ohio’s northwestern 5th district in the United States House of Representatives.

Right now, all across our country, American families are confronting soaring costs of living and skyrocketing energy costs while watching their home – the single most important investment they make in their lifetime – fall in value.

This week, as millions of American families filed their taxes, they were reminded of the high costs of the Democrat Congress.

Earlier this year, House Democrats paved the way for the largest tax increase in American history. Clocking in at $683 billion and putting the hammer to 115 million Americans, it’s working families that will be hit hardest by the Democrat tax increase. For instance, a family of four making $50,000 a year would see their tax bill go up by more than $2,100. That is a one-time, 191 percent increase in that family’s tax bill.

That hasn’t stopped House Republicans from working to cut taxes and reduce wasteful spending. Just this week in fact, we gave House Democrats multiple opportunities to stop their nearly $700 billion tax increase. They opposed our fiscally responsible efforts, and in doing so, straightforwardly told hard-working taxpayers that they know how to spend your money better than you do. At a time when families are tightening their belts in order to make ends meet, Washington Democrats are doing just the opposite.

Led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democrats in Washington also promised to lower your gas prices. But on their watch, drivers are now paying $1.09 a gallon more than they were when Democrats took control of Congress 15 months ago. This “Pelosi Premium” puts a tighter squeeze on working families at the worst possible time. Democrats, having passed massive tax increases on American energy companies, believe they can tax our fuel tanks full. Well, they’re wrong. And by many indicators, $4 gasoline may soon become a cruel reality.

And just last week, at the behest of Big Labor, Speaker Pelosi hijacked the rules of the House of Representatives and essentially killed a bipartisan trade agreement with Colombia – our strongest ally in South America – which would help American farmers, workers, small businesses and manufacturers at a time when every economic advantage is crucial.

The American people can barely afford the cost of the Democrat Congress. My Republican colleagues and I are fighting to deliver what middle-class families need most – new tax relief. While Democrats have proposed historic levels of wasteful Washington spending, all to be bankrolled by a massive, job-killing tax increase, Republicans are committed to stopping their harmful actions. Reducing taxes is the most commonsense approach to help struggling families. 

This is Congressman Bob Latta. Thanks for listening.

Congressman Latta’s biography can be accessed here.

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Congressman Robert Latta was elected in a special election in 2007 to serve the Ohio 5th District.  He is a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.  Congressman Latta previously served as a member of the Ohio General Assembly and Wood County Commissioner