McCarthy: Democrats Either Believe Economy Has Recovered Or Are Just That Out-Of-Touch With Americans

 Washington D.C. – House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA-22) gave the following remarks in support of stopping the President’s tax hike and reforming our tax code at a House Republican leadership press conference:

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“Two years ago, when the Democrats controlled everything in Washington, the question of raising taxes stood before Congress. At that time, 139 Democrats voted to extend the current rates and stop the tax increase. Among them were Debbie Wasserman Shultz, Steny Hoyer and Steve Israel. Today, 86 of them still serve in Congress. The argument they made at the time was that you do not raise taxes in a down economy. The question for the Democrats now begs; Do they think the economy is strong? … Do they think the economy is strong enough to cut 710,000 jobs? They either believe that it is, or they are completely out-of-touch with the American people.”

TRANSCRIPT:

“As the Speaker and Leader said, today is a big contrast between House Republicans and Washington Democrats. Two years ago, when the Democrats controlled everything in Washington, the question of raising taxes stood before Congress. At that time, 139 Democrats voted to extend the current rates and stop the tax increase. Among them are Debbie Wasserman Shultz, Steny Hoyer and Mr. Israel. Today, 86 of them still serve in Congress. The argument they made at the time was that you do not raise taxes in a down economy. 

“The question for the Democrats now begs; Do they think the economy is strong? … Do they think the economy is strong enough to cut 710,000 jobs? They either believe that it is, or they are completely out-of-touch with the American people. 

“What the House is doing goes beyond just extending the tax cuts – we want to eliminate uncertainty. Not only will we extend the current tax rates and stop the tax hike, we will also believe in reforming the tax code – which will create a million new jobs. We know the economy is not strong, and we want to make it stronger. We believe it can be if you unshackle what holds us back.”

Please see below for the complete list of 86 Democrats who joined Republicans in 2010 to stop the looming tax hike

In 2010, 139 Democrats joined with Republicans to stop the looming tax hike. 86 of those Democrats are still Members of the House this Congress (I’ve highlighted a few notables for you). What in two years has changed? The economy has actually gotten worse and GDP growth was just 1.5% in the second quarter of 2012. As a result, we expect all 86 Democrats to reiterate their previously stated position by voting with us today to stop the tax hike. After all, “you don’t raise taxes during a recession,” right?

House Republicans know that raising taxes on job creators is the last thing we should be doing right now and remain committed to protecting small businesses and middle class families. If anyone on the list below changes their stance from their 2010 yes vote and votes “no” on stopping the tax hike, don’t hesitate to ask the same question Majority Whip McCarthy posed at today’s Leadership stakeout: “Do they think the economy is strong? … Do they think the economy is strong enough to cut 710,000 jobs? They either believe that it is, or they are completely out-of-touch with the American people.”

Altmire

Andrews

Baca

Barrow

Berkley

Berman

Bishop (GA)

Bishop (NY)

Boren

Boswell

Brady (PA)

Capps

Cardoza

Carnahan

Carney

Carson (IN)

Castor

Chandler

Clay

Connolly (VA)

Costa

Courtney

Critz

Crowley

Cuellar

Davis (CA)

Davis (IL)

Deutch (FL)

Dicks

Dingell

Donnelly (IN)

Doyle

Fattah

Gonzalez

Green, Al

Gutierrez

Higgins

Himes

Hinojosa

Holden

Hoyer

Israel

Johnson (GA)

Kildee

Kissell

Kucinich

Langevin

Larsen (WA)

Levin

Lipinski

Loebsack

Lowey

Maloney

Matheson

McIntyre

McNerney

Meeks

Owens

Pallone

Pascrell

Pastor (AZ)

Peters

Peterson

Polis (CO)

Price (NC)

Quigley

Rahall

Richardson

Ross

Rothman (NJ)

Ruppersberger

Ryan (OH)

Sarbanes

Schakowsky

Schiff

Schwartz

Scott (GA)

Sherman

Schuler

Sires

Sutton

Tsongas

Walz

Wasserman Schultz

Watt

Waxman