Dreier: Dems Need to Address Looming Tax Increases Sooner Rather Than Later

February 5, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, said today the House Democratic Leadership needs to address a looming middle-class tax increase sooner rather than later, following comments from the House Budget Committee Chairman that tax and spending issues would be a problem for “the next Congress” to confront.

“Dealing with the hard choices on tax increases and reforming spending is the job of this Congress, not the next one,” Dreier said.  “If the Democratic Majority isn’t going to address these problems now, what exactly will they be doing this year?  The American people want us to come together to fix what’s wrong with Washington.  They want us to reform the earmarking process.  They want us to spend their money wisely.  They want us to deal with the impending tax increases that loom large in 2010.  Rather than working together to solve these problems, the Democrats are putting off the hard work.  That’s not in the best interest of the American people, and it’s not what we were sent here to do.”

NOTE:  In a February 5, 2008 interview with USA Today, Congressman John Spratt (D-SC), Chairman of the House Budget Committee, said the issue of whether or not to extend the middle-class tax relief would not be dealt with this year.  He said, “It will be something that the next Congress will have to deal with.”