Hultgren Defends Vote Against Fiscal Cliff Measure
Bill clears Congress, heads off crisis with expiration of Bush, Obama tax cuts, plus new taxes.
Congressional action late Tuesday night ended months of the nation teetering on the edge of the so-called fiscal cliff, a significant tax increase set to begin Jan. 1 with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and temporary tax cuts put through by President Barack Obama, as well as new taxes and automatic spending cuts.
Many feared that had Congress failed to address the issue, the tax increases and automatic spending cuts would have pushed the nation once again headlong into recession. Politico reported that the bipartisan solution was approved in a 257-167 vote by the U.S. House. U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-14th District, was one of those voting against the measure.
“The lack of spending cuts in this package is indefensible, which is why I voted against it,” Hultgren said in a release issued late Tuesday. “Washington, D.C. has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. This package fails to address that. In fact, it makes the $16 trillion debt and trillion-dollar deficit even worse.”
The measure “addresses several significant issues, including tax rates for families. It repeals the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act. It includes an extension of parity for employer-provided transit benefits, which is something I’ve fought for repeatedly,” he said in the release. “Most importantly, it makes current tax rates permanent for individuals earning less than $400,000 and families earning less than $450,000. That must happen, but not in the absence of any effort to rein in spending.”
In October, Hultgren warned that inaction by lawmakers would set the stage for the largest tax increase in the nation’s history.
“I’ve already voted against raising taxes on all Americans, and I cannot support an irresponsible bill which doesn’t begin to address the problem that got us into this mess in the first place,” Hultgren said about the bill approved Tuesday.
Related:
- Politico: Crisis averted: Cliff bill clears Congress
- Oct. 1, 2012: Hultgren: Brace Yourself for Major Tax Bite in 2013
Rick Reinacher
7:00 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
How come Randy has gone silent on social media? Can someone please ask that? Horrible rep!
JuleS
2:12 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
He only emails when he wants to promote himself. Apparently he doesn't have anything to say to his electorate.... except "No."
Carol Rosene
7:26 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Remember this when he comes up for reelection. How often er forget
Carol Damascus
7:42 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Look at history. Democrats have always reneged on cuts while getting more money. They rely on terrorizing the public with cuts and make them dependent on give always. Look where gov. b is today and where he helped to put Illinois with giveaways and increased taxes. We are the laughing stock of the country. Our country will soon be the laughing stock of the world.
Randy Huntley
7:51 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
I guess he does not care about Middle Class who elected him as he had 500+ days to address.
robert poznanski
7:55 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
He warns us that inaction would send us over the "fiscal cliff", but then vote's against the last minute package, to avoid, just that? Yes, the "package", was imperfect, but vote yes, and then fix the rest of the mess! It appears that the party line, was more important, then the constituents! Something to remember, next election!
Jon James
1:00 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
He has lost my vote by becoming of one the no no no non reps
JuleS
2:11 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
We will remember this, Hultgren, so don't get too comfortable in your office.
Mike Tillmans
3:06 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Hultgren voted against this relief measure, just as he did not address helping Hurricane Sandy relief victims. Who is he for?
JuleS
11:26 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Randy.
Niel
7:29 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Randy Hultgren's approach to balancing the budget is by making cuts to programs that provide social supports. Randy Hultgren supports corporate welfare. This was no secret before this last election and he won that election by 58.8%. He will now be in office for the next two years. In the spring of 2012, Randy supported H.R.5652. Bill 5652: It would have cut $310 billion from the deficit over a decade — much of it from programs for the poor — it would then shift some of that savings to the Pentagon to stave off automatic military spending cuts that were part of the "fiscal cliff. " That bill did not get past the Senate. Expect Randy Hultgren to consider cuts to social security and medicare to balance the budget. Don't wait for the next election. Write to Randy, or call him and tell him what you think.
Mike in St. Charles
11:00 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
This guy is way too conservative for me and the friends and neighbors I talk with, even Republicans. What kind of nut job would vote to send the nation over the cliff and into recession, and the issue a press statement defending his vote? I wonder if he will still be singing his Tea Party tune come election time. We need to identify candidates in both parties who can defeat Hultgren in the 2014 primary and/or general elections now!