Economy & Budget

Nothing good can come from this bill. It's loaded with pork that has no relation to our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it includes a deadline for evacuation that amounts to sending a 'Save the Date' card to al-Qaeda.

Yesterday, I voted against Democrat FY2008 Budget which contains the largest tax hike in American history.  This budget runs counter to the policies which have contributed to the progress our economy has made as a result of the tax relief I supported in 2001 and 2003.  It is a real shame that Democrats have chosen to fund their reckless spending new priorities on the backs of every hard working American.  I told my constituents last year that I would not support ending the tax cuts and unlike some in the new majority party, I kept my word.

Since 2003 when the tax cuts which President Bush requested and the Republican Congress provided became effective, our nation has added 7.6 million new jobs and unemployment has fallen to near historic lows of 4.5%.  Our economy avoided a lengthy recession in part because of these tax cuts.  With the cost of living rising, ending the tax cuts now will take money from every American to fund Congress' pet projects.

115 million taxpayers will see their taxes increase on average by $1,795 in 2011 as a result of the Democratic tax hike.  Every advance we made as a result of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts including the doubling of the child tax credit to $1,000, reducing the marriage penalty and the lowering of every single tax rate will come to an end as a result of the Democrat Budget. Read more...

I think the Democrat budget clearly demonstrates an expansion of their Orwellian democracy. The American people will not tolerate this majority saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite. This budget imposes the largest tax increase in the history of our nation; it clearly demonstrates the priorities of the Democrat majority and shows that they are not the priorities of the American people.

After the events of September 11, 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation fortified its facilities through capital improvements and increased guards and patrols.  These expenses were shifted to water and power customers for reimbursement, though Congress had not yet enacted specific authorization to do so and ratepayers were given no certainty that costs would be shared equitably.  On Friday I introduced a bill, H.R. 1662, to eliminate these disparities in current cost-sharing policy, while at the same time providing safeguards and adequate oversight for ratepayers.

The provisions in H.R. 1662 let us solve critical challenges going forward.  It protects ratepayers by providing certainty on their share of costs, provides new sources of revenues to the Bureau of Reclamation on future capital expenses, and delivers a good faith effort by Congress to resolve current disputes on security-related reimbursements. Read more...

All Americans should be treated fairly when deducting their state taxes, whether they pay state income taxes or sales taxes. The ability to deduct our state sales taxes is a simple matter of fairness. Tax relief has driven the economic growth since the recession following the 9/11 attacks and extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts is also a top priority.

The President has proposed a $330 billion tax hike on families with health insurance, in addition to $1 trillion more if we don't find a real solution to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). It is time to make sure America's families are safe, healthy, and economically secure, and we can start to do this by putting money in the pockets of the working families who most need relief. The budget we put forth on Thursday is, for the first time in years, a fiscally responsible piece of legislation that helps working families without adding to the inexcusable deficit racked up by the previous Congress and this administration.

The war supplemental spending bill marked up the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday includes key provisions regarding our way forward in Iraq, in addition to providing the funds our troops need to carry out their mission.

Though I am not in favor of the bill’s provision that sets a goal date for troop withdrawal, I supported the overall bill because I successfully included language that would establish clear, measurable benchmarks for the Iraqi government to meet as conditions for our troops staying in Iraq. My proposal also requires the U.S. Commander in Iraq to provide regular reports on the progress of the Iraqis in meeting the benchmarks.

There are two priorities with regard to Iraq. First, provide the necessary resources to our troops to carry out their mission. Second, continue the discussion about U.S. policy in Iraq and the future role of the U.S. military there. The benchmarks included in the supplemental successfully transfer accountability for Iraq's success to the Iraqis and requires regular reports to Congress on their progress. That information can be used by Congress to make future decisions about U.S. military presence in Iraq. Read more...

When the Democrats took the gavel in January they wasted no time in ushering in a new era of government expansion and fiscal irresponsibility. They promised more spending and more taxing and now they've delivered with their budget resolution.

At $2.9 trillion, the Democrats' budget is the largest in American history. And by letting the critical tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 expire, they are also imposing the largest tax hike in American history despite the fact that those tax cuts have grown our economy and created over 7.6 million new jobs for Americans.

What's more, the Democrats' proposal offers no real fix for the looming alternative minimum tax crisis, which is catching more and more middle-class Americans every year because it is not indexed for inflation.

The Democrats' reckless tax and spend budget is a one-two punch that will knock out America's economy and hard-working taxpayers everywhere.

The House Democrats showed their true colors yesterday. They proposed a budget that includes the largest tax increase in history, and have proven that they would like nothing better than to return to the tax and spend model of government.

Their plan is a reckless proposal that would spend $24 billion more than President Bush requested—all without substantially addressing the spiraling costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. This massive spending spree means they can no longer hide behind rhetoric about fiscal responsibility.

The Democrat budget kills tax cuts for 936,000 North Carolina married couples who—if the Democrat budget is approved—would see their taxes go up, as well as 837,000 married couples and single parents who face a major reduction in the child tax credit under the Democratic budget plan. Read more...

The Democrats' budget is based on irresponsible spending in excess of $24 billion over the President's request for next year alone. Most disturbing is the package includes the largest tax increase in American history - something that should greatly concern every citizen in this country. We have proven results that the tax relief enacted by Republicans over the last six years has led to a booming economy, low unemployment, and substantial savings for the American people. This plan to raise taxes and increase government spending in unprecedented amounts will hurt American families and our thriving economy.