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This is a Time for Action...Not a Time to Play Games with Kansans' Family Budgets

Despite Political Games US House Prevents Job Killing Tax Increase on American Families and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a two-year extension of the current tax rates and managed to stop a $3.8 trillion job-killing tax increase on January 1st. This vote, which stopped the government from taking roughly $100 a week out of the pockets of middle class Americans, was nearly defeated by politicians more interested in short-term political gain than the success and security of American families, small businesses, and the economy as a whole. Reps. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) and Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) joined with Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) in voting to extend the tax cuts for Kansans. Tiahrt and Jenkins released the following statement after voting late Thursday for the tax-relief package:

“Kansans and all Americans sent a clear message on Election Day – they want productive and thoughtful adults representing them in Washington. Playing chicken with a struggling economy to prove a political point is not why Kansans sent us to Congress. Quite simply, Kansans expect and deserve more.

“While there are facets of the tax agreement we strongly object to, the most important thing was to stop the nearly $4 trillion tax hike that would have hit every American taxpayer and most small businesses January 1. Simply put, a vote against this bill was a vote to take families’ hard-earned money and put it in Government’s pockets. This two-year extension of all the current tax rates provides Congress with a window to truly reform the tax code and provides businesses with some short-term certainty so they can go out, invest and hire new workers to grow the economy.

“This deal isn’t perfect, but it prevents liberal Democrats from attaining their goal of repealing the Bush tax cuts. It is our sincere hope that the Republican House Majority will lead the next Congress in making true tax reform a top priority so we can see a paid-for and permanent extension of these tax rates and protect the American economy.”

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