Payroll Tax Cut

Floor Speech

Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, today the House will debate extending the payroll tax cut. I strongly urge extending this tax cut. If we don't, tens of millions of New York families will see an average tax increase of $1,000 next year, and as many as 400,000 jobs could be lost nationwide.

But, frankly, it is ridiculous that we are considering this legislation on the floor today. With so many unrelated riders attached to the bill, we know it is dead on arrival in the Senate. This charade will create anxiety among middle class Americans that their taxes are about to go up, and it will create economic uncertainty during the holiday season when so much of our economy is based on consumer confidence and spending.

The same Congress that took us to the edge of a government shutdown and defaulting on our debt is again choosing brinksmanship over leadership, regardless of the impact on our economy and the middle class.

I urge the House to reject this bill and pass a clean extension of the payroll tax cut that we know will pass the Senate and become law immediately.

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