Letter to Speaker Boehner and the Honorable Dave Camp, Chairman, Ways and Means Committee

Letter

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn, and Ranking Member Sander Levin sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp tonight requesting the Ways and Means Committee hold a markup of Republicans' proposed legislation to renew expiring tax cuts. The letter notes that, "the looming expiration of current tax policy deserves a full and fair consideration of alternative approaches, with members of both parties allowed to offer amendments."

The full text of the letter is below.

July 18, 2012

Hon. John Boehner
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Hon. Dave Camp
Chairman, Ways and Means Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker & Mr. Chairman:

We write to request that the Ways and Means Committee schedule a mark-up of the Republicans' proposed tax legislation before it is considered by the full House. The looming expiration of current tax policy deserves a full and fair consideration of alternative approaches, with members of both parties allowed to offer amendments.

Majority Leader Cantor said on the Floor last Thursday that he intends to call up legislation during the week of July 30 that will extend all the tax cuts for another year. As you know, Democrats agree that we ought to extend all of them for income below $250,000, avoiding a tax increase on 98% of Americans next year. A bill to do so would, we believe, pass the House and Senate with overwhelming majorities and be signed into law without delay.

The House Republican position of insisting on an all-or-nothing extension and additional tax breaks to those at the highest income levels has effectively held middle-class tax relief hostage. We should be working together to take action immediately to provide economic certainty to middle-class families and small businesses that they will not see a tax increase next year.

Mr. Speaker, you pledged in October 2010 that, if Republicans were to capture the Majority, this House would operate under regular order. You said at the time: "We have nothing to fear from letting the House work its will -- nothing to fear from the battle of ideas. That starts with the committees. The result will be more scrutiny and better legislation."

It is our hope that the Committee will schedule this mark-up without delay so Congress may begin the important and serious discussion the American people expect from those who represent them.

NANCY PELOSI
Democratic Leader

STENY H. HOYER
Democratic Whip

JAMES CLYBURN
Assistant Democratic Leader

SANDER LEVIN
Ranking Member, Ways and Means Committee