Newest GOP senator: Election results should matter in lame-duck
Senate Republicans on Saturday tapped their newest member,
Mark Kirk, to deliver a shot across the bow of Democratic leaders to warn
against any tax hikes in the current lame-duck session.
Kirk defeated Democratic state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias
in a bitter contest this fall for President Obama’s former Senate seat. He used
Saturday’s weekly GOP radio address to argue that Democratic leaders should pay
heed to the Nov. 2 election results. Republicans won six Senate seats in the
election, prompting Democratic leaders to push items in the lame-duck session
that have a better chance of success than will be possible in January.
in a bitter contest this fall for President Obama’s former Senate seat. He used
Saturday’s weekly GOP radio address to argue that Democratic leaders should pay
heed to the Nov. 2 election results. Republicans won six Senate seats in the
election, prompting Democratic leaders to push items in the lame-duck session
that have a better chance of success than will be possible in January.
{mosads}“The current leaders of Congress should not move forward
with plans that were just rejected by the American people,” Kirk said. “These
leaders should not raise taxes and risk another recession. Instead, Congress
should reduce spending and prevent another tax hike on American taxpayers.”
with plans that were just rejected by the American people,” Kirk said. “These
leaders should not raise taxes and risk another recession. Instead, Congress
should reduce spending and prevent another tax hike on American taxpayers.”
Kirk’s address comes just hours before the Senate is
scheduled to take two procedural votes at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on whether to
extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts signed into law by President Bush. Democrats
favor keeping the cuts for middle-class families but letting those for the
wealthiest Americans expire; Republicans are insisting on a permanent extension
of all of the cuts.
scheduled to take two procedural votes at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on whether to
extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts signed into law by President Bush. Democrats
favor keeping the cuts for middle-class families but letting those for the
wealthiest Americans expire; Republicans are insisting on a permanent extension
of all of the cuts.
As have other Republicans, Kirk cast the cuts for wealthy
Americans as essential to allowing small businesses to create and preserve
jobs, and to end uncertainty surrounding the 2011 tax rates.
Americans as essential to allowing small businesses to create and preserve
jobs, and to end uncertainty surrounding the 2011 tax rates.
“Taxpayers don’t know what their personal income tax rates
will be come Jan. 1,” he said. “Family business employers don’t
know what the death tax will be. Investors and small businesses don’t know what
the capital gains rate will be. Their uncertainty hurts our economy. It’s
unfair and short-sighted.”
will be come Jan. 1,” he said. “Family business employers don’t
know what the death tax will be. Investors and small businesses don’t know what
the capital gains rate will be. Their uncertainty hurts our economy. It’s
unfair and short-sighted.”
Kirk also criticized Democrats for rejecting a ban on
earmark spending, as the GOP did last month on a voluntary, two-year basis.
Calling the decision “disappointed and disconnected from the American people,”
Kirk said it was symptomatic of Democratic reliance on spending.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has two votes
planned Saturday, one on a plan by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus
(D-Mont.) that would extend the cuts only for families that earn less than
$250,000. The second plan offered by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would extend
the cuts only for families that earn less than $1 million.
planned Saturday, one on a plan by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus
(D-Mont.) that would extend the cuts only for families that earn less than
$250,000. The second plan offered by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) would extend
the cuts only for families that earn less than $1 million.
Both plans are expected to fall short of the necessary 60
votes, but the White House is still negotiating with congressional leaders from
both parties on a potential compromise. The House this week already voted to
extend the tax cuts for middle-class families only.
votes, but the White House is still negotiating with congressional leaders from
both parties on a potential compromise. The House this week already voted to
extend the tax cuts for middle-class families only.
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