U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) released the following statement soon after voting against the deal to avoid the fiscal cliff which passed the House during the evening of Jan 1. 257 to 167 votes:
We have gone over the fiscal cliff because of Washington’s inability to control spending, and now in the eleventh hour, Congress’s only answer is to throw more money at our already outrageous problem. In just ten short years, this deal will add nearly $4 trillion dollars to the debt, and it only includes $1 in spending cuts for every $41 in tax hikes. I cannot support a bill that makes such a mockery out of the very serious spending addiction that has crippled our country’s livelihood and taken a toll on the American people.
I believe the only way to truly jumpstart our economy is to provide lower taxes and more relief for families and small businesses across the country. Instead, this bill passes on one of the largest tax hikes in decades, and it makes these higher rates permanent. As a result, 77% of American households will see their taxes go up, while some of Washington’s favorite industries – including Hollywood, railroads, and rum producers – will see their tax credits extended.
My fear is that in a very short period of time we’ll be right back here having this same debate; who to raise taxes on and by how much, without a word about cutting spending. It’ll only be so long until we’re taxing the entire country at maximum rates – but still spending so much that we cannot meet our obligations. That’s when we’ll reach the real fiscal cliff, and as a consequence the United States will no longer be the global powerhouse and economic leader that it once was. We cannot let it come to this, but it will – unless this Congress, this Administration, and this President get serious about cutting spending.
Other Monroe Patch articles you may find helpful:
- What is the 'Fiscal Cliff'?
- How the Fiscal Cliff Can Affect Your Paycheck
- Should the FairTax Solution be Part of Fiscal Cliff Negotiations?
- What Would You Like to See Congress do to Avoid Going Over the ‘Fiscal Cliff?’
