Rep. Schakowsky and 108 fellow House Members send Letter to Speaker Boehner Demanding Tax Revenues be put on the Table during Budget Talks

WASHINGTON, DC (June 6, 2011) — Today Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), member of President Obama's bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and 108 fellow House members sent a letter to Speaker Boehner demanding that revenues must be on the table in any discussion addressing the deficit and our long-term fiscal challenges. Putting our fiscal house in order through spending cuts alone would be devastating to the economy, the middle class, seniors, children, and low-income families.

"Overwhelmingly the American people are saying that the best way to reduce the debt is not cutting Medicare but taxing millionaires and billionaires. The wealthy have enjoyed the lowest tax rates in the last 50 years. Yet Republicans in their budget actually want to expand tax cuts to the wealthy while maintaining subsidies for Big Oil,... Rep. Schakowsky said. "House Republicans are remarkably out of touch with the American people. The President and the Democratic Caucus are ready to reduce the deficit. We are just not going to do it on the backs of the middle class and our seniors....

Specifically, the letter highlights revenue increases that Americans support by wide margins: raising tax rates on millionaires and billionaires, ending subsidies for the oil and gas industry, and eliminating tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas.  

A copy of the letter and signatures are attached. (link)

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Contact: Adjoa Adofo, Communications Director

   adjoa.adofo@mail.house.gov

   202.225.2111