Washington, D.C. — Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, released the following statement today after President Obama called on Congress to cut taxes for Americans making under $250,000:
“Today’s announcement from the president is an opportunity for Congress to give middle-class American families what they need to put food on the table. Extending tax cuts for those making less than $250,000 will benefit 98 percent of American households and will boost the recovery as American families can purchase basic items like groceries and school supplies. A fair, targeted, one-year tax reduction for working Americans will help the entire country.
“Unfortunately, the Republican House majority has repeatedly put the concerns of millionaires and billionaires ahead of middle class families. GOP lawmakers believe a struggling economy will help them politically and put a Republican in the White House. The American people have already been on the losing end of their gamble for more than a year. And we can’t afford to let them continue to hold the country hostage.
“All Americans, including the very wealthy, benefit when everyone contributes their fair share. When presidents Reagan, Bush, Sr. and Clinton told millionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share, the country saw millions of new jobs and strong economic growth for decades.
“That’s why the president’s announcement today is so important. It’s time to focus on the needs of working Americans instead of the partisan needs of the wealthiest few and their friends in Washington. This is the right policy at the right time and we support it wholeheartedly.”
