Irresponsible Budget Insulting And Insensitive To Taxpayers, Michael C. Burgess, M.D., USA

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 14 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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U.S. Representative Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas) voted against the largest tax increase in American history, part of a fiscally irresponsible budget proposed by the House Democrat majority. The budget raises taxes to finance hundreds of billions of dollars in new Washington spending. At the same time, it fails to address the need for major reform of entitlement spending, which is out of control and unsustainable in the long-term.

"Working families are tightening their belts to pay their bills while the majority party attempts to pin new taxes on their already cash-strapped backs," said Rep. Burgess. "It's insulting to ask Americans to work harder to pay for more unnecessary Washington spending."

Under the Democrat budget, 116 million American taxpayers will pay higher taxes, including married couples and families with children. The child tax credit will be cut in half, the marriage tax penalty fully reinstated, and the 10 percent tax bracket increased to 15 percent. Seniors will pay drastically higher taxes on savings and investments while taxes on dividends and capital gains income will double. Family-owned small businesses also will suffer as the plan resurrects the inheritance tax. In Texas' 26th District alone, the Democrats' fiscally irresponsible budget would raise taxes, on average, by more than $3,000 per taxpayer. It could also result in a loss of more than 2,700 local jobs and cost the area economy $344 million*.

Rep. Burgess expressed concern with the massive $283 billion spending increase called for in the Democrats' budget.

"Spending ourselves silly is not what people sent us here to do. Americans expect more and they deserve better than short-term spending that disregards long-term concerns," maintained Burgess.

The Democrats' budget also fails to address the coming crisis in our entitlement programs. If Democrats continue to fail to reform entitlements, the increased costs would require raising taxes by the current equiva-lent of $12,072 per household or eliminating every other government program.

"Our country continues to benefit from hard working Texas taxpayers. Unfortunately, these same people are shouldering a disproportionate share of entitlement spending while receiving less than our share of any benefits. This needs to change," commented Rep. Burgess.

http://burgess.house.gov