In a new display of progressive opposition to the tax-cut deal, a group of 54 House Democrats have released a letter opposing the package — and predicting that Republicans will double-cross the Dems later on when it comes to the resulting huge increase in the national debt.
The letter, headed up by Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT), declares:
Adding more than $900 billion to our national debt, as this proposal would do, handcuffs our ability to offer a balanced plan to achieve fiscal stability without a punishing effect on our current commitments, including Social Security and Medicare.
…
Without a doubt, the very same people who support this addition to our debt will oppose raising the debt ceiling to pay for it.
We support extending tax cuts in full to 98 percent of American taxpayers, as the President initially proposed. He should not back down. Nor should we.
Dear Madam Speaker,
We oppose acceding to Republican demands to extend the Bush tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires for two reasons.
First, it is fiscally irresponsible. Adding more than $900 billion to our national debt, as this proposal would do, handcuffs our ability to offer a balanced plan to achieve fiscal stability without a punishing effect on our current commitments, including Social Security and Medicare.
Second, it is grossly unfair. This proposal will hurt, not help, the majority of Americans in the middle class and those working hard to get there. Even as Republicans seek to add billions more to our national debt in tax cuts to the wealthy, they oppose extending unemployment benefits to workers and resist COLA increases to seniors.
Without a doubt, the very same people who support this addition to our debt will oppose raising the debt ceiling to pay for it.
We support extending tax cuts in full to 98 percent of American taxpayers, as the President initially proposed. He should not back down. Nor should we.
Sincerely,
PETER WELCH
Member of Congress
In addition to Welch, here is the full list of signatories:
⢠Earl Blumenauer (OR)
⢠Judy Chu (CA)
⢠Yvette Clark (NY)
⢠Steve Cohen (TN)
⢠John Conyers (MI)
⢠Elijah Cummings (MD)
⢠Danny Davis (IL)
⢠Peter DeFazio (OR)
⢠Donna Edwards (MD)
⢠Keith Ellison (MN)
⢠Anna Eshoo (CA)
⢠Sam Farr (CA)
⢠Bob Filner (CA)
⢠Barney Frank (MA)
⢠John Garamendi (CA)
⢠Alan Grayson (FL) (Lame duck — defeated for re-election)
⢠Raul Grijalva (AZ)
⢠Luis Gutierrez (IL)
⢠Alcee Hastings (FL)
⢠Martin Heinrich (NM)
⢠Maurice Hinchey (NY)
⢠Rush Holt (NJ)
⢠Jay Inslee (WA)
⢠Jesse Jackson Jr. (IL)
⢠Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX)
⢠Paul Kanjorski (PA) (Lame duck — defeated for re-election)
⢠Dennis Kucinich (OH)
⢠Barbara Lee (CA)
⢠John Lewis (GA)
⢠Ben Ray Lujan (NM)
⢠Steven Lynch (MA)
⢠Doris Matsui (CA)
⢠Jim McDermott (WA)
⢠Mike Michaud (ME)
⢠Jim Oberstar (MN) (Lame duck — defeated for re-election)
⢠John Olver (MA)
⢠Chellie Pingree (ME)
⢠David Price (NC)
⢠Tim Ryan (OH)
⢠Linda Sanchez (CA)
⢠Jan Schakowsky (IL)
⢠Carol Shea-Porter (NH) (Lame duck — defeated for re-election)
⢠Adam Smith (WA)
⢠Jackie Speier (CA)
⢠Pete Stark (CA)
⢠Betty Sutton (OH)
⢠Bennie Thompson (MS)
⢠Mike Thompson (CA)
⢠Paul Tonko (NY)
⢠Anthony Weiner (NY)
⢠Lynn Woolsey (CA)
⢠David Wu (OR)
⢠John Yarmuth (KY)
