PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: March 30, 2007
Contact: Abigail Shilling (202) 225-6365

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) voted against the 2008 Budget Resolution today, H.Con.Res. 99, which would inflict the largest tax increase in American history – nearly $400 billion over five years and an average tax increase of $3,119 for Virginia taxpayers.

“The growth of our economy, fueled by tax relief, would be brought to a halt by this increase,” said Forbes. “Common sense tells us that individuals spend their money more wisely than the federal government. Constituents look to their representatives to produce a fair, balanced and responsible budget without taking more of their hard-earned money.”

Congressman Forbes voted in favor of the budget substitute amendment, which includes manageable spending, continued tax relief and reserve funding for emergencies. National advocacy groups in favor of this budget substitute include: Freedom Works, Citizens Against Government Waste, the Club for Growth and the National Taxpayers Union.

Forbes also recently cosponsored the following legislation which encourages fiscal responsibility, addresses the need for a balanced budget and continues tax relief for American families:

·   H.J.RES.1, the Balanced Budget Amendment, which will force Congress to enact fiscally responsible spending measures, reduce the deficit, and ensure that the money our citizens work so hard to earn is not spent on wasteful spending and programs. The bill requires that Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues, requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress, and requires a 3/5 majority vote to increase the debt limit. A Constitutional amendment will force Congress to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending and make the decisions necessary to balance the budget and eliminate the federal deficit.

·   H.R. 1122, the Emergency Spending Control Act of 2007, which would require justification from the President for all funding requests designated as an ‘emergency.’ It would create a separate reserve fund in the budget in anticipation of these emergency funding needs. The emergency cost of the hurricane season of 2005, including Hurricane Katrina, was over $110 billion. This bill would work towards ensuring emergency spending is more thoroughly reviewed and provided for in the budget.

·   H. R. 510, the Tax Code Termination Act, which would abolish the Internal Revenue Code by December 31, 2010 and establish a new federal tax system by July of 2010. This legislation would terminate our current tax code and force Congress to fully debate and address fundamental tax reform.

·   H.R. 411, the Tax Relief for Families Act, which would make some of the most popular, common-sense tax cuts permanent to help Americans better provide for their families and help our economy. Specifically, it will make permanent the Child Tax Credit, Marriage Penalty Relief, College Tuition Deduction, State and Local Sales Tax Deduction and School Teacher Expense Deduction, and it would repeal the estate tax.

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