The following op-ed appeared yesterday in the Philadelphia Inquirer. It states that Congressman Runyan should do the right thing and let the Bush Tax Cuts expire for top-income earners
By Joshua Henne
Over 13 years in the NFL, Jon Runyan's job was to protect the quarterback. Now that he's in the House of Representatives, his job is to protect his constituents. Runyan (R., N.J.) can do that by agreeing to President Obama's plan to preserve Bush-era tax rates for the middle class while letting them expire for the richest 2 percent.
Democrats and Republicans alike can agree that middle-income families' taxes shouldn't go up. But they will increase if Congress fails to act. With a Dec. 31 expiration date looming, Runyan would be wise to heed the advice of his colleague Tom Cole, the first Republican congressman to openly urge approval of Obama's plan. Cole served as the Republican National Committee's chairman and as its chief of staff during George W. Bush's presidential run. But even this rock-ribbed partisan knows there is no good reason to hold all the country's taxpayers hostage simply to fight for the uber-wealthy.
It's fine if you still believe in trickle-down economics, unicorns, and leprechauns. But what truly fuels small-business success is regular folks' having money to spend. And if Congress fails to act, tax hikes could force Americans to reduce their spending on clothes, cars, and other consumer products by almost $200 billion next year alone.
Ending tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires is also essential to avoiding the fiscal cliff's automatic spending cuts, which would cripple many government programs that families rely on. Obama's proposal to let taxes go up for the wealthiest households would bring in half the money needed to avoid those cuts. Meanwhile, 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses would keep the tax rates they currently enjoy.
Runyan should show he's not willing to allow middle-class taxes to spike just to avoid asking the wealthiest to pay their share. New Jersey's employment has consistently trailed the nation's under Gov. Christie. Unemployment hovers around 10 percent, significantly worse than the U.S. rate, and middle-class incomes are languishing even as those of the top earners are rising.
Runyan has already said he won't be beholden to Grover Norquist's silly no-tax pledge, as has his colleague across the Delaware, Pat Meehan (R., Pa.). They should take the next logical step and embrace Obama's proposal.
Last month, Americans voted resoundingly for the president after a campaign that focused squarely on the fairness issue. At his own election-night victory party, Runyan said, "The political positioning is over, and it's now time to have the adult conversations with the American people." Runyan was completely correct: His constituents want action, not posturing.
There is no better way for the former lineman to tackle the real problem and put his money where his mouth is - and to put more money in the pockets of the middle class and small businesses - than by supporting the president's call for tax relief for 98 percent of Americans.
Joshua Henne is New Jersey spokesman for The Action. He can be followed on Twitter at @JoshuaHenne.
Showing posts with label Grover Norquist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grover Norquist. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
NJ GOP HOUSE MEMBERS SHOULD LISTEN TO CONGRESSMAN TOM COLE & CONTINUE MIDDLE-CLASS TAX RELIEF IMMEDIATELY
For Immediate Release:
November 28, 2012
Politico, 11/27: Republican Rep. Tom Cole urged colleagues in a private session Tuesday to vote to extend the Bush tax rates for all but the highest earners before the end of the year — and to battle over the rest later. ... “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now,” [Congressman Cole] said of freezing income tax rates for all but the top 2 percent of earners.
(NEW JERSEY) – With the December 31st expiration date looming for the Bush Tax Cuts, New Jersey’s Republican House members would be wise to join with their colleague Congressman Tom Cole – a member of the House Republican leadership – in doing the right thing: immediately extending tax relief for the middle class and letting the Bush Tax Cuts expire for the wealthiest 2%.
On Election Day, the voters spoke up loud and clear for fairness. And recent polls show both the American people and small businesses do not support continued tax breaks for the richest 2%. If Congress fails to act, the average middle-class family would see a $2,200 spike in taxes - negatively impacting consumer spending and retailers, while killing jobs in the process.
“With near 10 % unemployment and consistently lagging the rest of the country when it comes to jobs, New Jersey needs middle-class tax relief,” said Joshua Henne, spokesman for New Jersey Protect Your Care. “To date, Congressmen such as Jon Runyan, Chris Smith, Leonard Lance and Frank LoBiondo have been reluctant to listen to 60% of Americans or the majority of small business owners who support letting the Bush Tax Cuts lapse for the top 2%. Hopefully, they’ll listen to a fellow staunch Republican who is prepared to put what’s best for his country and the middle-class ahead of special interests and Grover Norquist’s silly pledge.”
As Politico noted, Congressman Cole is no “squish” when it comes to Republican orthodoxy. Cole served as Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 1992 cycle. During George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign cycle, he served as Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee. In 2008, Cole served as Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
There’s no time to waste. New Jersey needs middle-class tax relief right now. This Saturday, December 1st there will be 4 activist get-togethers spread across the state where people can learn about the issues facing Congress over the next few weeks. Here, participants can mobilize to make sure New Jersey’s delegation does the right thing by letting the Bush Tax Cuts lapse for the wealthiest 2%. The locations for this Saturday’s sessions are as follows:
1). Toms River: Branch OC Library, 101 Washington Street (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
2). Montclair: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church Street (11 am – 12:30 pm)
3). Willingboro: Senior Center, 429 John F. Kennedy Way (11 am-12:30 pm)
4). Pleasantville: Christ Worship Worldwide Church, 249 W. Bayview Avenue (10 am – 2 pm)
November 28, 2012
Politico, 11/27: Republican Rep. Tom Cole urged colleagues in a private session Tuesday to vote to extend the Bush tax rates for all but the highest earners before the end of the year — and to battle over the rest later. ... “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now,” [Congressman Cole] said of freezing income tax rates for all but the top 2 percent of earners.
(NEW JERSEY) – With the December 31st expiration date looming for the Bush Tax Cuts, New Jersey’s Republican House members would be wise to join with their colleague Congressman Tom Cole – a member of the House Republican leadership – in doing the right thing: immediately extending tax relief for the middle class and letting the Bush Tax Cuts expire for the wealthiest 2%.
On Election Day, the voters spoke up loud and clear for fairness. And recent polls show both the American people and small businesses do not support continued tax breaks for the richest 2%. If Congress fails to act, the average middle-class family would see a $2,200 spike in taxes - negatively impacting consumer spending and retailers, while killing jobs in the process.
“With near 10 % unemployment and consistently lagging the rest of the country when it comes to jobs, New Jersey needs middle-class tax relief,” said Joshua Henne, spokesman for New Jersey Protect Your Care. “To date, Congressmen such as Jon Runyan, Chris Smith, Leonard Lance and Frank LoBiondo have been reluctant to listen to 60% of Americans or the majority of small business owners who support letting the Bush Tax Cuts lapse for the top 2%. Hopefully, they’ll listen to a fellow staunch Republican who is prepared to put what’s best for his country and the middle-class ahead of special interests and Grover Norquist’s silly pledge.”
As Politico noted, Congressman Cole is no “squish” when it comes to Republican orthodoxy. Cole served as Executive Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 1992 cycle. During George W. Bush’s 2000 campaign cycle, he served as Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee. In 2008, Cole served as Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
There’s no time to waste. New Jersey needs middle-class tax relief right now. This Saturday, December 1st there will be 4 activist get-togethers spread across the state where people can learn about the issues facing Congress over the next few weeks. Here, participants can mobilize to make sure New Jersey’s delegation does the right thing by letting the Bush Tax Cuts lapse for the wealthiest 2%. The locations for this Saturday’s sessions are as follows:
1). Toms River: Branch OC Library, 101 Washington Street (1:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
2). Montclair: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 67 Church Street (11 am – 12:30 pm)
3). Willingboro: Senior Center, 429 John F. Kennedy Way (11 am-12:30 pm)
4). Pleasantville: Christ Worship Worldwide Church, 249 W. Bayview Avenue (10 am – 2 pm)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)