Will Jim Cooper Join His Party’s Calls for Billions More in Taxes?

February 10, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Dan Boren (OK-02), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Jerry Costello (IL-12), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Jay Inslee (WA-01), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Chris Murphy (CT-05), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Mike Ross (AR-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), David Wu (OR-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Will Jim Cooper Join His Party’s Calls for Billions More in Taxes?

Democrats Aim to Continue Taxing and Spending Rather Than Cutting Red Tape

Washington — With Republicans moving forward to identify and eliminate red tape that is holding back job creation, it remains to be seen if Tennessee Democrat Jim Cooper will join his fellow party members in proposing more of the same taxing and spending that has failed to improve the economy. President Obama made it clear that Democrats wish to continue their tax and spend policies, when he revealed his budget plan could help expand payroll taxes by up to $100 billion. Cooper, with the chance later this week to cut burdensome regulations that hurt job creators, will have to choose between continuing his party’s tax and spend ways or finally cutting red tape like Americans have been demanding.

“President Obama and the Congressional Democrats intend to push for even more new taxes and spending, which puts Jim Cooper in an awkward position since Americans have realized those policies don’t work,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “If Cooper wants to demonstrate that he finally received this message, he will have an opportunity when the House votes later this week to cut the same excessive regulation that his party has championed.”

Part of President Obama’s budget plan could increase payroll taxes by as much as $100 billion:

“President Barack Obama’s budget proposal is expected to give states a way to collect more payroll taxes from businesses, in an effort to replenish the unemployment-insurance program. The plan could cause controversy at a time when the administration is seeking to mend fences with corporate America…

“The plan, which would take effect in 2014, could increase payroll taxes by as much as $100 billion over a decade, according to a person involved in its construction.” (Jonathan Weisman and Damian Paletta, “Obama Budget Proposes Broader Unemployment Taxes,” Wall Street Journal, 2/8/11)

The American public wants an end to the excessive regulation, taxation and spending, and yet that is just where President Obama and the Democrats want to keep heading. Voters have instead been calling for a reversal of their big-government policies which are hindering job creators from getting Americans back to work. With the vote later this week to kick off the process of cutting the red tape and allowing businesses to grow again, will Jim Cooper demonstrate that he has finally heard those calls?

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