Heck Votes to Prevent Tax Increase on All Nevadans

WASHINGTON -   With current tax rates set to increase for all Americans on January 1, 2013, Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today voted in favor of H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act, which would prevent taxes from increasing and extend all current tax rates for one year. Rep. Heck released the following statement after the House passed the bill 256 to 171.

"In 2009, President Obama stated that we should not raise taxes during a recession. Three years later, Nevada's unemployment rate leads the nation and too many people are struggling to make ends meet. Clearly, the recession is still very real in our state.

"Today, the House assured all Nevadans that they will not see their taxes increase next year. This means that a family of four would get to keep nearly $2,000 in their pocket to continue making mortgage payments, putting gas in the car, and food on the table. This bill prevents a reduction in the child tax credit and also the elimination of the 10 percent tax bracket which adversely affects low-income individuals, especially our seniors. 

"While the President's proposal to raise taxes will create zero new jobs, the bill passed by the House to extend current rates for individuals and businesses will keep Nevadans working."

Background:

The Heritage Foundation used the most recent available IRS and Congressional District information to calculate that for Nevada, the average tax increase per tax return would be more than $4,500.

According to the most recent report from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, Nevada's statewide unemployment rate is 11.6%, while the city of Las Vegas rate is 12.1%.  The number of unemployed Nevadans is 163,900.

Additionally, it was recently reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that Nevada's "actual unemployment" rate (measures those who have stopped looking for work and are underemployed) is 22%.

A July report compiled by Ernst and Young (pg 20) revealed that President Obama's tax plan could result in 6,000 lost jobs in Nevada.

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