Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Hartzler: It's time for Obama to get serious about avoiding fiscal cliff

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)


Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) has issued the following statement calling on President Obama to present a framework for averting the fiscal cliff that threatens to increase taxes on all American taxpayers and hollow out our armed forces through sequestration:

“As the representatives of the people have returned to Washington following to the election to do the people’s work, it is time for President Obama to get serious about putting forward a framework to avoid the huge tax increases and massive spending cuts to the military that will take place in January, devastating hardworking Americans and small businesses, and jeopardizing our national security.

Republicans in the House addressed both issues months ago by passing legislation to extend the current tax rates and to cut waste in other programs to pay for sequestration, yet the Senate has failed to pass either of the measures as our country careens closer and closer to the cliff. Now is the time for leadership from the White House. If the President doesn’t like our plan, then it is time for him to put forth his own so that meaningful discussions can begin and we can look for ways to find common ground for the American people. I am pleased that the President has had talks with Congressional leaders to discuss the fiscal cliff. Unfortunately, though, he has only talked about raising taxes and has failed to provide his framework to avert the crisis.

Raising tax rates will hurt small businesses and destroy jobs. The clock is ticking and the fiscal cliff is rapidly approaching. Republicans are eager to begin substantive talks to implement a solution to this crisis but we cannot negotiate with ourselves. It is time for President Obama to step up to the plate to propose a comprehensive framework to avert the fiscal cliff and prevent the devastation of America’s fragile economy.”

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