Moore Statement on Tax Cut Vote

Statement

Today, U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore made the following statement after she voted against legislation that extends Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and weakens the current estate tax rate, which together cost the government nearly $130 billion over two years:

"These tax cuts were controversial when they were first enacted in 2001 and 2003 at a time when our country had a record surplus. And after that, we've had two unpaid-for wars, Hurricane Katrina, the oil spill, and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. When we talk about extending these tax cuts in a package with a price tag of more than $800 billion for two years at a time of record debt and deficit, we just can't be serious.

"After all their talk about debt and deficit, I think it's absolutely nonsensical that the Republicans' opening bid is tax cuts for millionaires or bust. The plight of the millions of unemployed ought to stand on its own, not be held hostage to the less than 40,000 of America's richest families who stand to benefit from changes in the estate tax.

"When it comes to extending tax cuts, it's important to pick and choose. A wholesale extension -- even of President Bush's tax cuts for families earning less than $250,000 -- disproportionately help our country's highest earners.

"It's hard for me to see what will be different in two years that will make it easier to end the tax cuts then -- and before we know it, they'll be permanent and our budget will be balanced on the backs of our most vulnerable neighbors."

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