COLUMBUS, OH - In advance of a scheduled vote tomorrow in the United States House of Representatives to preserve a middle class tax cut for 98% of American families, several Ohio-based Mayors, City Council members and County Commissioners are encouraging Speaker of the House, John Boehner, and his Republican colleagues in Congress, to reverse course and do the right thing for Ohio's middle class families.
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the middle class tax cut extension. Upon passage, President Obama released a statement that said, in part, "...the House Republicans are now the only people left in Washington holding hostage the middle-class tax cuts for 98% of Americans and nearly every small business owner."
In their letter to Speaker Boehner, the Ohio-based city and county leaders remind Speaker Boehner that extending and preserving tax cuts for middle class families strengthens the local economy by putting more money in the pockets of families who are likely to spend more at the grocery store, the movies, or at local restaurants and stores.
But, if House Republicans refuse to act, the typical family of four will face a tax increase of $2,200 next year. Passing this bill will ensure that over 100 million families nationwide, and 97 percent of small businesses, won't face a tax increase on January 1st.
The Ohio leaders highlight that President Obama has already cut taxes for the typical middle class family by $3,600 by passing tax cuts that make college more affordable, helping couples buy their first home with homebuyer assistance, and assisting middle class families in affording child-care.
They write, "On the other hand, Mitt Romney has proposed a plan that would help only the wealthiest among us while exploding our deficit. On top of making the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires permanent, Romney has proposed $5 trillion in new cuts weighted toward the wealthy - giving the typical millionaire a tax break 4,000 times larger than the average middle class family. With no way to pay for these, Romney's plan threatens to increase taxes on hundreds of thousands of middle class Ohioans in order to pay for even more tax breaks for the wealthy."
For a full copy of the letter that several Ohio city and county elected leaders have sent to Speaker of the U.S. House John Boehner, please see below.
July 30, 2012
To the Honorable House Speaker John Boehner -
For far too long, our nation has been plagued by a great inequality. And it's an issue that's only getting worse in this country.
Tomorrow, the House will take an important vote to help put this inequality to an end. The President has urged Congress to pass S. 3412, a bill passed in the U.S. Senate last week that preserves tax cuts for the 98% of American families who earn less than $250,000 a year. Unfortunately, to the detriment of Ohio and the rest of the country, Republicans in Congress and Governor Mitt Romney have stood staunchly against these efforts. As representatives of communities across Ohio, we urge you to reverse course and do the right thing for Ohio's middle class families.
Extending and preserving tax cuts for the middle class naturally benefits all of our communities. With a few extra dollars in their pockets, middle class families will spend more at the grocery store, the movies, or go out to eat on a Friday night,- strengthening our local economies and putting more Ohioans back to work.
If Republicans in the House refuse to act, the typical family of four will face a tax increase of $2,200 next year. Passing this bill will ensure that over 100 million families nationwide, and 97 percent of small businesses, won't face a tax increase on January 1st.
President Obama has already cut taxes for the typical middle class family by $3,600. He's passed tax cuts that make college more affordable, helped couples buy their first home with homebuyer assistance, and assisted middle class families in affording child-care. These tax cuts provide security for families, help students achieve their goals, and make the American dream of home ownership a reality.
On the other hand, Mitt Romney has proposed a plan that would help only the wealthiest among us while exploding our deficit. On top of making the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires permanent, Romney has proposed $5 trillion in new cuts weighted toward the wealthy - giving the typical millionaire a tax break 4,000 times larger than the average middle class family. With no way to pay for these, Romney's plan threatens to increase taxes on hundreds of thousands of middle class Ohioans in order to pay for even more tax breaks for the wealthy.
We can all agree on one thing: No one, regardless of political leaning, wants to see taxes for over 100 million families go up on January 1st. That's why we're urging Congress to prevent this tax hike on the middle class, pass S. 3412, and give American families and small businesses the certainty that they will not face a tax increase that they deserve.
For communities in Ohio, the choices are clear. A fair tax system is not partisan politics, it's commonsense. We urge you and your fellow Republican colleagues in the House to vote with Ohio's middle class and pass this tax cut.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mike Lorentz, Mayor of Belpre
Doug Corcoran, Ross County Commissioner
Gary Utt, Richland County Commissioner
John O'Grady, Franklin County Commissioner
Dan Claypool, Ashtabula County Commissioner
Kathy Catazaro-Perry, Mayor of Massillon
Sandra Kurt, Councilwoman Summit County Council
Tito Brown, President, Youngstown City Council
Joyce Cameron, Mayor of Trotwood
John Smith, Mayor of Silverton
Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commissioner
Judy Dodge, Montgomery County Commissioner
Matt Joseph, Dayton City Commissioner
Dale Miller, Cuyahoga County Councilman
Pernel Jones, Cuyahoga County Councilman
Yvonne Conwell, Cuyahoga County Councilman
Gary Norton, Mayor of East Cleveland
Pete Gerken, Lucas County Commissioner
Tim Wagener, Mayor of Maumee
