Statement

U.S. Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott on Friday voted to pass the Conference Report on H.R. 3630, The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act, which will extend the payroll tax cut for working families for the remainder of 2012, stop a reduction in Medicare reimbursements to physicians scheduled for the end of the this month, and continue unemployment benefits for unemployed Americans. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support and must now be considered by the Senate.

"Without congressional action, almost every working family in Arkansas will see their taxes go up at the end of this month when the payroll tax cut expires," said Ross. "I'm glad that Democrats and Republicans finally came together, found common ground and reached an agreement that allowed us to continue providing tax relief and economic assistance to millions of hardworking families in a bipartisan way." U.S. Congressman Mike Ross of Prescott on Friday voted to pass the Conference Report on H.R. 3630, The Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act, which will extend the payroll tax cut for working families for the remainder of 2012, stop a reduction in Medicare reimbursements to physicians scheduled for the end of the this month, and continue unemployment benefits for unemployed Americans. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support and must now be considered by the Senate.

"Without congressional action, almost every working family in Arkansas will see their taxes go up at the end of this month when the payroll tax cut expires," said Ross. "I'm glad that Democrats and Republicans finally came together, found common ground and reached an agreement that allowed us to continue providing tax relief and economic assistance to millions of hardworking families in a bipartisan way."

The bill would extend for the remainder of 2012 the two percent Social Security payroll tax cut for workers and extend through the end of the year provisions that block a major cut to physicians' Medicare reimbursement rates. It would also continue long-term unemployment benefits for unemployed Americans with the maximum duration of these benefits being tied to each state's unemployment rate.

"I have always believed that working families know how to spend their money better than the federal government and that's why I supported this common sense tax cut extension," said Ross. "This legislation will be a big help to a great number of families in Arkansas and across America and it will be critical to ensuring our economy continues to recover and grow. "

The bill would extend for the remainder of 2012 the two percent Social Security payroll tax cut for workers and extend through the end of the year provisions that block a major cut to physicians' Medicare reimbursement rates. It would also continue long-term unemployment benefits for unemployed Americans with the maximum duration of these benefits being tied to each state's unemployment rate.

"I have always believed that working families know how to spend their money better than the federal government and that's why I supported this common sense tax cut extension," said Ross. "This legislation will be a big help to a great number of families in Arkansas and across America and it will be critical to ensuring our economy continues to recover and grow. "