Congressman Earl Blumenauer joined 178 colleagues and signed a discharge petition on H.R. 15, the Middle Class Tax Cut Act.  The Middle Class Tax Cut Act would extend all Bush-era tax cuts on income under $250,000 for married couples ($200,000 for individuals) through 2013.   

While there is disagreement about the extension of the tax cuts for upper income brackets, there is consensus that the tax cuts for the middle income bracket should be extended.  The Senate the passed the Middle Class Tax Cut Act in July 2012. 

“Let’s act on things that we agree, let’s rebuild and renew America, and find ways to save the money and put us on a path to fiscal responsibility that the American public needs and demands," Blumenauer Said.

If the discharge petition reaches the required 218 signatories, the Speaker of the House would be forced to bring the Middle Class Tax Cut Act to the floor for a vote.