OC Register - O.C. Republicans Help Pass "Cliff' Bill

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By Unknown

It took breakaway Republicans to help Democrats pass the fiscal-cliff bill in the House Tuesday night, and one of those Republicans was Rep. Ed Royce of Fullerton.

"This bill protects millions of Americans from harsh tax hikes -- hikes that would have been a systemic shock to our already weak economy," Royce said on the House floor before the vote. "Tax relief has been achieved. Now is the time for the president to work with Congress to address government overspending, the underlying problem."

The measure raises taxes on annual family income above $450,000 and delays across-the-board spending cuts for two months. The late-night vote was 257-157, with "aye" votes from 172 Democrats and 85 Republicans. Voting no were 16 Democrats and 151 Republicans.

Among the supporting Republicans were House Speaker John Boehner and Reps. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, and Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar. The districts of Calvert and Miller include portions of Orange County, although they will move entirely out of the county with the newly drawn districts of the new 113th Congress.

Opposing Republicans included Reps. John Campbell, R-Irvine; Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa; and Darrell Issa, R-Vista. Issa's San Diego County district will reach into southern Orange County in the new Congress.

"We understand that we may be raising taxes, but keeping or increasing spending too?" Campbell said on Monday. "I'm trying to save the country from falling further in debt."

Issa and Rohrabacher also opposed the measure because of the absence of spending cuts.

"The Senate, the president and the vice president failed to meet their obligation, their own stated obligation, which was to bring us a balanced bill," Issa said on CNN before Tuesday's vote. "One that had tax adjustments, yes, but also had spending cuts. This one fails at that, and fails badly."

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