Contact: Josh Schwerin (518) 369-5469

Washington, Dec 2 - Congressman Scott Murphy (NY-20) today helped pass a permanent extension of tax cuts for the middle class.  The tax cuts will apply to every family’s first $250,000 of income.

“Families in Upstate New York are already saddled with a heavy tax burden, and we cannot afford to increase that burden.  That’s why I was proud to support this extension,” said Murphy.  “Today we were able to move one step closer to giving our middle class families much-needed relief by permanently extending these tax cuts.

“It is imperative that the Senate follow our lead and send this legislation to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  It would be the height of fiscal irresponsibility to hold these cuts hostage in order to fight for more tax cuts for millionaires.  To give tax cuts to the richest few Americans, we would need to borrow an additional $700 billion from foreign countries at a time when we desperately need to cut our deficit.”

The bill, which would extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts on income less than $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for families, passed 234-188.