Chairman Thomas: Republicans Have Delivered Policies that Benefit Americans
Chairman Thomas: Republicans Have Delivered Policies that Benefit Americans
Since 2001, the Ways and Means Committee has promoted legislation to provide tax relief to American workers and employers, create new and better healthcare options, open our borders for trade, reform and improve the welfare system and enact spending reforms to save taxpayer dollars and reduce the deficit.
"Republicans have an economic agenda for America and we have been putting it in place - lower taxes, affordable health care, new economic opportunities through trade and better use of taxpayer dollars," said Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA). "Democrats have opposed our efforts virtually every step of the way. Looking at the growth and strength of our economy, it's easy to see that America cannot afford to undo these policies."
On Taxes, Jobs and the Economy
Republicans led the fight to enact $2 trillion in tax relief that has contributed to the current strong economic conditions:
* a 4.6 percent unemployment rate in September 2006
* all-time high stock market values in October 2006
* 6.6 million new jobs since May 2003
* rising wages, rising incomes and rising wealth
Republicans continue to work to extend critical tax relief and are committed to preventing tax increases.
Democrats have other plans. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee Charlie Rangel (D-NY) said that he "cannot think of one" of President George W. Bush's first-term tax relief measures that merit renewal.
On Health Care
Republicans oversaw the implementation of the Republican-created and AARP-backed Medicare prescription drug benefit. Today, more than 38 million seniors and people with disabilities now have drug coverage. By including market-oriented reforms in the legislation, beneficiaries have better choices in how they receive their prescription drug coverage and are saving, on average, $1,200 off the cost of their prescription drugs.
Democrats want to expand the reach and expense of government-run health care programs. Democrats would repeal the prescription drug benefit as we know it today - instead, proposing a big government-run prescription drug plan that would cost billions in additional spending, increase seniors' average premiums by more than $132 per year and reduce access to life-saving breakthrough drugs.
On Trade
Republicans have fought for free trade to help American consumers and workers. After nearly a decade with little progress on trade because of Democrat opposition, Congress empowered the President with negotiating authority to open new markets to U.S. exports and create more American jobs. The resulting seven trade agreements have created new opportunities for U.S. farmers, businesses, consumers and workers. At the same time, they provide tools to adjust to the global economy, improve worker rights, and protect against unfair trade.
Democrats oppose many trade votes. Under intense pressure from their Leadership, many Democrats have continued to vote against free trade agreements that provide economic opportunities for Americans in the global economy. They are more interested in shutting borders and effectively posting a sign at America's borders that says "Closed for Business."
On Welfare
Republicans continue to develop pro-work welfare reforms which expect low-income parents to work or get job training in exchange for their welfare benefits. For example, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 included a series of reforms to strengthen the nation's welfare reform efforts and required that more adults on welfare work for their benefits, while at the same time increasing resources for child care to support these working families.
Democrats opposed recent welfare reforms, instead favoring prior rules under which attending smoking cessation classes, receiving a massage, or writing a personal journal could be considered "work" for purposes of collecting a welfare check. Their own "reform" proposals favored increasing welfare spending by billions of dollars despite the fact that States have record-high levels of federal funding for these programs, while including numerous new incentives for millions of families to become dependent on welfare instead of supporting themselves through work.
On Spending and Deficits
Republicans enacted the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that will save taxpayers about $40 billion over the next five years. Republicans have succeeded in cutting the federal deficit in half three years before expected, due to spending restraint and large increases in tax revenues attributable to strong economic growth.
Democrats opposed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. Senior Democrats called for expensive new entitlement spending, such as a government-run health care system and large, but unnecessary, expansions in social spending such as for unemployment benefits, welfare, and the salaries of state bureaucrats.
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/news.asp