Halvorson Votes to Skip Town Rather Than Stop Tax Hike

Press Release

Casts Deciding Vote Choosing Pelosi over Small Business

In the face of persistently high unemployment and a struggling economy, incumbent Debbie Halvorson could not bring herself to defy her patron, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, siding with her to adjourn Congress early without acting to avert the impending largest tax hike in history. Halvorson's decisive vote for adjournment, the day before a scheduled Pelosi fundraiser for her, means that small businesses and taxpayers can expect to pay more in taxes in 2011, thereby damaging an already struggling economy.

"Once again, Debbie Halvorson has sided with Nancy Pelosi over the families and businesses of her district," said Adam Kinzinger, an Air Force Captain. "Rep. Halvorson has supported the Pelosi agenda 93% of the time to the detriment of the 11th District. She had an opportunity with this vote to force Congress to stop the largest tax increase in history, helping small businesses and families. Instead, she chose to side with Nancy Pelosi, just as she did with the massive government healthcare bill, the failed Stimulus bill and cap and trade."

Halvorson, in fact, cast one of the decisive votes for adjournment as the measure passed 210-209 with 39 Democrats joining the Republicans in voting against adjournment, including Illinois Democrats Bill Foster and Melissa Bean. The vote allows Congress to leave Washington, DC early to campaign rather than complete a long list of unfinished business for the American people. Without action by Congress and the President, the tax rates passed in 2001 and 2003 to provide tax relief to all Americans will not be continued, triggering the largest tax hike in American history. Many experts agree that a tax hike would be one of the worst occurrences for the struggling American economy, hindering badly needed spending and investment and depressing the demand for goods.

This is just the latest vote in which Halvorson has chosen Nancy Pelosi's priorities over the will of her constituents. In just two years, she has supported a very unpopular government healthcare overhaul, even refusing to hold public meeting to gain constituents' input; the job-killing cap and trade energy tax that will make American companies less competitive in the world market; the Stimulus bill that has failed to produce promised jobs in the 11th District, but did add to sky-rocketing deficits; and, now, has refused to block an ill-timed tax increase on small businesses and families that will kill jobs.

"This vote is further evidence that Debbie Halvorson is not an independent legislator who is representing her constituents," said Kinzinger. "Even when 39 Democrats bucked their leadership and voted for what is right; she remained a loyal vote for Nancy Pelosi. Fortunately, in a month voters will have the opportunity to choose new leadership. I will support pro-growth policies, less spending and low taxes so that our economy can get moving again, and I will listen to people of the 11th District."

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