Sam Johnson: Democrat’s budget raises taxes and increases spending

March 13, 2008

Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) cast his vote against the Democrat’s budget that includes the largest tax hike in history and increases spending.

According to the Heritage Foundation, the Democrat’s budget hikes taxes for people living in the Third Congressional District by $2669 in 2009. The Democrat’s budget passed 212 to 207.

“I think Americans are over-taxed and they are already anxious about the wobbly economy. Americans can’t afford the Democrats’ tax hikes. Congress should be able to balance the budget with fiscal discipline and real reform, not with more spending and more taxes,” said Johnson.

Johnson supported the House Republican budget that holds the line on spending, prevents the largest tax hike in history, repeals the alternative minimum tax over time, and imposes a one-year moratorium on earmarks, dedicating the money saved to help keep taxes low and to balance the budget. The GOP budget aims to fix the unsustainable rate of spending of Medicare and Medicaid. The House Republican budget failed to garner enough votes to become the ultimate House budget.

The Democrat’s budget raises the marginal rates for all workers, eliminates the 10% bracket for low-earners, re-instates the marriage penalty, resurrects the so-called death tax, and abandons the $500 per-child tax credit. On top of spiking taxes, the Democrat budget creates $100 billion in new spending in addition to the across-the-board 8.8% increase over the 2008 spending levels. The budget ignores the looming entitlement spending crisis in Social Security and Medicare. Failing to make tough decisions now, coupled with throwing money at the bloated programs, endangers the long-term health and retirement safety nets.

“The only real action they take on reforming Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid is to kick the can down the road another five years. What is the cost of their irresponsible inaction? Roughly $14 trillion! By refusing to make the tough decisions on how to resolve the serious financial trouble these programs are facing, the Democrats have decided to leave the decisions to someone else. That is not acceptable,” said Johnson.

“The liberal Democrat majority has shown their true colors – hike taxes and spending and make the American taxpayers foot the bill,” concluded Johnson.

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