WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Thursday (December 2nd) expressed his concerns that Speaker Pelosi’s most recent tax stunt further imperils the nation’s families and small businesses.  The move threatens to extend the current period of elevated unemployment and economic uncertainty as well as further drag down our economy.  Upton strongly supports permanently extending all of the tax cuts before they expire December 31, 2010.

“House Democrats continue to fiddle while Rome burns – the nation’s working families and small businesses cannot afford further delay,” said Upton.  “The Democrats’ latest gimmick is nothing short of a massive tax increase for nearly 750,000 small business owners. With unemployment stuck at 9.6 percent, it is critical for Congress to extend the tax cuts now to provide small businesses the certainty they need to start hiring new workers.  The clock is ticking, and in just over four weeks, every single family will see their taxes go up in the form of a $3.8 trillion hike.”

Upton continued, “Had the process allowed for open debate and amendments – letting the House work its will - all of the tax cuts would undoubtedly have already been extended with bipartisan support, thus averting a tax hike that hits small businesses struggling to stay afloat. This latest stunt by House Democrats epitomizes exactly what folks across the country objected to on November 2nd – not allowing a full, fair, transparent process on an issue so critically important to every American’s pocketbook and job.”

Upton is a signer of the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge opposing “any and all efforts” to increase taxes on families and businesses.

Source:  News release from Congressman Fred Upton