Congressman Stands with Middle-Class American Families

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding H.R. 6467, the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010”:

“Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6467, the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010.  Put very simply, our vote on this bill today is a statement of values.  Do we stand with middle-class American families, whose lives and livelihoods have been devastated by the recession, or do we stand with the wealthy scions of finance and industry who drove this country off an economic precipice of gargantuan proportions?  There can be no justification for holding tax relief for middle-class families hostage by supporting those who did nearly irreparable harm to our great Nation, and those members of the House who vote against this bill should forever be ashamed of putting the interests of Wall Street fat-cats before those of the vast majority of American families.

My Republican colleagues seem to be blind to this reality and will no doubt work this very day to make a public statement of their unflinching support for the wealthy at the cost of providing tax relief to the middle-class Americans who need it most.  This, sadly, should come as no surprise, given Republican opposition to extending unemployment insurance.  As if denying 800,000 Americans – and over 180,000 people in my home state of Michigan – extended unemployment benefits at the time they need it most is not enough, Republicans now seek to bar tax relief to middle-class Americans in a cynically transparent attempt to allow the wealthy to continue lining their pockets.

In closing, I would remind my friend, the erstwhile Minority Leader that he stated some months ago on “Meet the Press” that he would support a middle-class tax cuts-only bill if it were his only choice.  Well, Madam Speaker, the Minority Leader now has the opportunity to make good on that statement.  If he does, his conscience will thank him. I yield the balance of my time.”

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