For Immediate Release
December 3, 2012
Contact: TJ Helmstetter
Communications Director
Email: thelmstetter@americansfortaxfairness.org
Americans For Tax Fairness Statement on GOP Plan to Delay Middle-Class Tax Cuts to Protect the Richest 2 Percent
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Americans for Tax Fairness, a campaign with more than 230 national, state, and local organizations united in support of a tax system that works for all Americans, responded today to a letter from House Republican leaders to the President that continues to delay a tax cut for middle-class families as the GOP fights to preserve tax cuts for the rich. On Tuesday, House Democrats are expected to press for an up or down vote on the middle-class tax cuts bill passed by the U.S. Senate in July. Rep. Tim Walz will file a discharge petition to bring H.R. 15 to the floor since it appears that House Republicans will continue to hold middle-class tax cuts hostage to tax cuts for the rich.
“The GOP could not be clearer in this letter that they will continue to hold up tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans in favor of the richest 2 percent,” said Frank Clemente, campaign manager for Americans for Tax Fairness. “This fixation with demanding that a revenue increase be based on closing loopholes rather than raising tax rates on the richest Americans is a fig leaf for fraudulent tax reform. The numbers don’t add up and that’s what they want.”
Earlier today, Americans for Tax Fairness released a national action alert calling for people to write Congress and support Rep. Tim Walz’s discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 15 to extend middle-class tax cuts while ending tax cuts for the richest 2 percent.
Short link to the action alert online: http://bit.ly/TyoNG2
Read the full action alert below:
Subject Line: Stop Holding the Middle Class Hostage to Millionaires
From: Frank Clemente, Americans for Tax Fairness
Supporter,
There is one thing that stands in the way of renewing middle-class tax cuts for 98% of Americans right now and ending those tax cuts for the richest 2% – House Speaker John Boehner.
Since John Boehner is not willing to hold an up-or-down vote on the middle-class tax cut bill that already passed the Senate, our only alternative is to FORCE him to do it. That can be done through a powerful procedural move called a discharge petition, which requires a simple majority of House members to sign it.
If we get 218 members of Congress to sign it we get a vote. It’s that simple. If we can get all 192 Democrats to sign it, we just need 26 Republicans. So let’s get busy.
Write to your U.S. Representative and tell them that you want an up or down vote on middle-class tax cuts – and an end to tax breaks for the richest 2%.
Tell your representative that you’re sick and tired of being held hostage because John Boehner wants to use you as a bargaining chip.
Write your representative today and tell them how you feel.
Let’s do this,
Frank Clemente
Campaign Manager
Americans for Tax Fairness
###