Progressives Condemn House Vote To Preserve Tax Cuts For Wealthy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
CONTACT: Joanne Schwartz, Executive Director at 303-991-1900

DENVER: Learning today of the vote by Colorado Republican members of Congress to reject the Senate's plans for extending the Bush tax cuts for middle class Americans, ProgressNow Colorado, the state's largest online progressive advocacy organization, offered the following statement:

"Once again, Colorado Republicans in Congress have proven they are not on the side of the voters who elected them," said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Joanne Schwartz. "Extending the Bush tax cuts for middle class families and allowing them to expire for the wealthiest Americans is the right thing to do. This is what the people of Colorado overwhelmingly support, but Scott Tipton, Mike Coffman, and Cory Gardner won't do it--because the wealthy and corporate donors to their campaigns won't let them."

"Responsible economists and public policymakers agree that America can't solve our budget problems with cuts alone. The fact is, the richest 2% pay a lower share of their income in taxes than they have in generations. Each year, we fall deeper into debt and vital safety nets like Medicare continue to fray--because politicians like Tipton, Coffman, and Gardner refuse to ask them to pay their fair share. The tax rates America paid during Bill Clinton's presidency didn't hurt the economy; in fact, our economy was stronger before the Bush tax cuts."

"Above all, Americans are tired of the same old rhetoric instead of solutions to these problems," said Schwartz. "Tipton, Coffman, and Gardner refuse to lead and continue to insist that the solution to every problem facing America is more tax cuts for the wealthy. The voters will send a message of their own to these three politicians this November."

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