Sam Johnson: Let's Find Real Economic Solutions

Press Release

Sam Johnson: Let's find real economic solutions

As Congress debated the future of an $800+ billion economic stimulus proposal, today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) urged his colleagues to help the unemployed and stop forcing jobless Americans to pay income taxes on unemployment benefits this tax season.

Johnson called on fellow Members of Congress to "go back to the drawing board to come together to find real economic solutions to help get this economy moving again" - not at the expense of the unemployed. Last week, during debate of the bill at the Ways and Means Committee, Johnson offered an amendment to temporarily halt the taxation of unemployment benefits for 2008 and 2009. Despite the fact that President Obama advocated this common-sense proposal in his economic plan, the Committee Democrats defeated the measure. Today the House passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, H.R. 1, without the Johnson unemployment tax assistance initiative by a vote of 244 to 188.

"Eleven million unemployed Americans are receiving a notice that says that they owe taxes on their unemployment benefits and they will have a huge bill due by April 15th. As this Congress works to find ways to kick start the economy, I propose that we not kick folks when they're down, and that we eliminate the tax on unemployment insurance benefits for 2008 and 2009. The economic stimulus needs to do this," Johnson said on the floor of the House.

"I'd like to be able to inform my constituents that we're going to do something about this problem. If we really want to help those struggling with unemployment, striving to get (or keep) a job, and hoping to keep a roof overhead and food on the table, we need to get to work. We need to help people keep more of their money," said Johnson.

Johnson backs reducing the lowest tax rates from 15% to 10% and from 10% to 5%. A married couple filing jointly could save up to $3,200 a year. This would help every taxpayer.

While Johnson supports spurring economic recovery with job creation and tax relief, Johnson took issue with the non-related, non-emergency government spending in the so-called stimulus bill that passed the House that topped $800+ billion.

"The Democrats went overboard when putting together their out-of-control spending plan - and allocated money to some of the most irrelevant programs that have absolutely nothing to do with economic recovery. The excess is shameful - especially in this time of financial need," said Johnson.

For example, the Democrats allocated $600 million to buy new cars for government workers - despite the fact that the government already spends $3 billion a year to care for a fleet of over 640,000 trucks, cars and other vehicles.

In addition, the Democrats dedicated $335 million for STD education, $50 million for the National Endowment of the Arts, and $1 billion for Amtrak, the government's rail company that hasn't made a profit in over forty years.

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