Congressman Tonko Statement after Republicans Kill Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Statement

Congressman Paul Tonko released the following statement after House Republicans killed bipartisan legislation to extend the payroll tax cut, an action that is likely to result in a tax increase for millions of Americans:

"Tea Party Republicans have manufactured this crisis because they didn't want to give middle class Americans a tax cut. While they went to great lengths to protect tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, Tea Party Republicans have played a political game that will result in a tax hike for 160 million Americans, strip unemployment benefits from more than two million others, and jeopardize the health care of 48 million seniors. We had a simple task this week -- pass a short term extension to guarantee the payroll tax cut and other measures continue, while continuing to negotiate a long term deal. Instead of joining 89 bipartisan Senators, House Republicans decided to send the bill to another committee for more deliberation and negotiation, in an effort to delay and deny the extension. I am deeply disappointed by these actions."

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