Today’s vote on the floor of the house is one that will undoubtedly be on the minds of Americans for years to come.  The bipartisan legislation that passed in the Senate and which was voted on today added significant new protections for taxpayers on Main Street, including increasing the amount of bank deposits insured by the government from $100,000 to $250,000 through 2009 and protecting 21 million middle-class families from getting hammered by the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for tax year 2008. It also guarantees that irresponsible corporate and Wall Street executives will not be rewarded with golden parachutes or severance pay.

As a result of the drastic improvements made in the Senate legislation compared to the Bush Administration’s plan, which I voted against, I voted in favor of the newest plan because it protects New York taxpayers from higher income taxes under the AMT and will save jobs in Western New York.  From the beginning my colleagues and I knew that our current economic turmoil was not something we could wish away and if this legislation had failed to pass American jobs would be in jeopardy and small businesses would have faced problems growing financially and creating and retaining jobs.

On Monday, I voted against a bad bill, which did not provide protections for taxpayers and did not address the fundamental problem that caused our economic crisis.  Today’s legislation was a significant improvement, one which I hope will restore confidence in our financial markets and allow for small business in Western New York to continue to grow and flourish.  This has been a very difficult decision, one in which the input from you my constituents was a key component.  I want to thank everyone who has called and emailed my office over the last two weeks and encourage everyone to continue to do so.

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Last Thursday the House voted on the budget conference report which would impose a tax hike on every single one of my constituents. This budget report, which is essentially the blue print for the federal budget, includes the largest tax increase in American history and will cost 116 million taxpayers an average tax hike of $1,833 in 2011.

I voted against this because my constituents did not send me to Washington to increase their taxes and promote additional wasteful spending. Today the Hill had an article about the two newly elected Democrats opposition to this budget. Here’s what they had to say.

Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL): “I can’t support a budget, from either party, that raises taxes on the middle class. I campaigned on a platform of middle-class tax relief, and I was elected to Washington to bring about change. When asked to choose between my party and the people I represent, I will choose the families of the 14th district every single time.”

Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-LA): “I voted against [the budget] because it allows tax cuts to expire in 2010, raising taxes on most American taxpayers. I promised the people of the 6th district of Louisiana to vote with my party when they are right, and vote against them when they are wrong. My vote today was the right vote for my constituents.”    To read the article click here. To read my statement about the budget click here

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A collective sigh will be heard all over the nation as hard working Americans head today to the post office to send out their tax returns. Benjamin Franklin had it right when he said that there are two things you can count on: death and taxes. However, Benjamin Franklin did not say that we had to accept the largest tax increase in history that the Democrats are imposing. Their budget resolution will cost the average taxpayer in the 29th Congressional District an additional $1,474 in taxes and lead to a $250 million loss to our local economy.

This is why I have co-sponsored H.R. 2734, the Tax Increase Prevention Act, which will put a stop to the Democratic tax hike. Besides the increase for the average taxpayer this $683 billion budget also includes:

• Approximately 48 million married couples will face an average tax increase of $3,000 per year.
• Low-income families with one or two children will no longer be eligible for the refundable child tax credit in 2011.
• Roughly 12 million single women with children will see their taxes increase by $1,100 per year.
• About 18 million seniors will be subjected to tax increases of more than $2,100 per year
• Tax bills for an estimated 27 million small-business owners will increase by more than $4,000 each.

Hard working families have enough to deal with like, the increasing cost of living, the faltering economy, and the housing crunch. They do not need to be worrying about the biggest tax hike in history. Instead of utilizing the tax and spend policies of the past, we should be balancing the federal budget without raising taxes on the American people.

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Higher Energy Taxes, Higher Income Taxes, Higher Gas Taxes on the Middle ClassToday, new research shows nearly half of Americans oppose paying even one cent more in gas taxes , but the Democrat Energy Committee Chairman is calling for a 50-cent gas tax hike on every motorist in America.

Democrat Chairman John Dingell’s 50-cents-a-gallon gas tax hike completes the Democrat tax hike trifecta:

*       Last week, with the economy slowing, Democrat leaders passed the largest tax increase in American history, raising taxes on workers, parents, married couples, seniors and small businesses.

 *       Last month, Democrat leaders passed $18 billion in new energy taxes, a massive, job-killing, price-spiking tax hike even Energy Committee Democrats opposed .No wonder The Albuquerque Journal recently sighed in an editorial that the Democrat “Congress is no longer in session, and can’t inflict any more damage for a while.”

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Today the House will vote on the monstrosity that is the Democrats’ FY 2009 federal budget resolution. This budget resolution, which includes the largest tax increase in American history, will cost the average taxpayers in the 29^th Congressional District an additional $1,474 in tax increases and lead to a $250 million loss to our local economy. 

The $683 billion tax increase affects everyone - married couples, families with children, small businesses and family farmers, for entrepreneurs and job-providers, and for investors.  There’s literally something for everybody in this blueprint.   Tax increases on the House floor are nothing new, however.  In fact, during the 14 months that Democrats have been in the Majority, they have passed hundreds of billions in new taxes. 

Here’s the list:  TAX HIKE OVER 10 YEARS

•  H. Con. Res. 99 – FY 2008 Budget Resolution -  $392.5 billion (5 yrs)

• H.R. 6 - CLEAN Energy Act - $7.718 billion

• H.R. 976 - Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act -  $1.38 billion

• H.R. 1562 - Katrina Housing Tax Relief Act - $241 million

• H.R. 1677 - Taxpayer Protection Act - $23 million

• H.R. 1906 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 - $14 million

• H.R. 1591 - U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, & Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act - $4.442 billion

• H.R. 2206 - U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, & Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act - $4.899 billion

• H.R. 1830 - Andean Trade Preferences Act - $105 million

• H.R. 2419 - Farm Nutrition and Bioenergy Act - $7.478 billion

• H.R. 3162 - Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act - $54.83 billion

• H.R. 2776 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act - $15.286 billion

• H.R. 976 - Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization as Amended by the Senate - $71.7 billion

• H.R. 3540 - The Airport and Airway Trust Fund Financing Act - $1.814 billion

• H.R. 3648 - Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act - $2.005 billion

• H.R. 5351 - Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act - $17.71 billion

In response to this tax-and-spend budget, I support the House Republicans proposed budget alternative. The alternative will balance our federal budget without increasing taxes. Congress should be passing legislation that keeps taxes low, promotes economic growth, and puts an end to the excessive waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.

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I have discussed the monstrosity that is the Democrats’ FY 2009 federal budget on this blog and in editorials. But today I sat through a budget class to learn about the serious ramifications of this enormous, broad-based, job killing, $683 billion tax increase that will be placed on working families and small business entrepreneurs. Here are the facts about this budget proposal: 

Increase in Marginal Rates: $325.7 billion

Increase in Tax Per Child: $50.9 billion

Increase in Marriage Penalty: $25.4 billion

Increase in Death Tax: $180.6 billion

Increase in Taxes on Investments: $81.8 billion

Other Tax Increases: $18.7 billion

Nationally: 

• Some 116 million taxpayers will see an average tax increase of more than $1,800 per year.
• More than 6 million low-income individuals and couples who currently pay no taxes will no longer be exempt.
• A family of four earning $50,000 will see their taxes increase by $2,100.
• Approximately 48 million married couples will face an average tax increase of $3,000 per year.
• Low-income families with one or two children will no longer be eligible for the refundable child tax credit in 2011.
• Roughly 12 million single women with children will see their taxes increase by $1,100 per year.
• About 18 million seniors will be subjected to tax increases of more than $2,100 per year.
• Tax bills for an estimated 27 million small-business owners will increase by more than $4,000 each.

 In the 29^th District:  

• Additional loss in income per person in 2012: $2,161
• Loss in jobs in 2012: 59,037
• Loss to local economy (millions) in 2012: $250

 This budget is another example of how out of touch the Democratic leadership is with the American people. As a Member of Congress, our sworn duty is to better the lives of our constituents and prevent the government from becoming a burden to its citizens.

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This week the House will consider the monstrosity that is the Democrats’ FY 2009 federal budget, which was introduced last Wednesday. And not to be outdone by any previous Congress, their budget proposal is historic for all the wrong reasons. Among other things, it:

1. Includes the largest tax increase in American history;

2.  Increases federal spending by hundreds of billions of dollars to expand government programs;

3.  Abandons reform efforts to fix the broken and abusive earmark system;

4. Raises taxes on children by slashing the $1,000 per child tax credit in half; and

5. Refuses to rein in entitlement spending in order to save Medicare for future generations.

To see the break down of how much more the average taxpayer will be paying on an annual basis under this budget click here. Residents of New York State will be paying $3,658 annually

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What can you do with $1,833? Pay off college tuition or stimulate the economy? Unfortunately the Democratic Majority wants you to pay taxes with that money. The Democrat Fiscal Year 2009 budget has been released today and has been described with two words: fiscally irresponsible. American families today have to face issues like mounting gas prices, increasing health care, and the long-term solvency of entitlement programs. The Democratic Majority’s total disregard for the people and their needs is troubling. The House Republicans have pledged the following:Our Principle: House Republicans are ready to make the tough choices that balancing the people’s books will require, including serious spending discipline and meaningful entitlement reform. House Republicans will work toward a fiscally responsible budget – not a fiscally irresponsible one that foists a massive tax hike on the American people to finance billions in wasteful Washington spending, not to mention failing in our obligation to address the crisis in runaway entitlement spending.The Republicans support tax relief on the middle class and continue to support the immediate moratorium of earmarks. The Democratic Majority has proposed the biggest tax hike in American history. Their budget includes a massive, broad-based, job-killing $683 billion tax increase on working families and small business entrepreneurs – all to finance wasteful new Washington spending. In order to get our economy moving again, we must stop a Democrat tax hike in its tracks and instead cut taxes for middle-class families and small business owners.

Before House Democrats take this budget under further consideration, I strongly encourage them to go to their districts, walk down the street, and ask any of their constituents one question: Who do you trust more to spend your $1,833, the government or yourself? Regardless of political affiliation, we all know the answer to this question. American taxpayers do not want the government throwing more of there hard earned dollars into pet projects that further drive our country into debt.

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Today I joined many of my Republican colleagues in demanding that the earmark system be reformed to prevent further abuse. From the Bridge to NoWhere to the $1 million Woodstock museum, the current earmark system has spun out of control and taken with it the respect for lawmakers in Congress.  I call for an immediate overhaul of this abused system. Until we can fix the disparity and greed involved with earmarks, I call for the eradication of ALL earmarks for FY 2008. At the State of the Union Address the President is predicted to declare that he will veto any FY 2009 spending that will not result in the FY 2008’s tax payers earmarks to be cut in half. I urge President Bush to go further then vetoing spending bills and I call on him to abolish this system until we can control spending.

Democrats have stated their opposition of Earmarks in the past, yet what are they doing to proactively change this policy? “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that she would support banning earmarks outright: ‘I’d just as soon eliminate them altogether,’ Pelosi said…” (The Hill, 5/3/06). Over a year and a half later and  Pelosi and the rest of the Democratic leadership have yet to make any progress on tackling the greed and disparity in the earmark system.

Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI) has said: “If I had my way there wouldn’t be any damn earmarks. They are a huge nuisance.” (National Review Online, 6/5/07).

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