Growing Chorus: Do Not Raise Taxes on Small Business in a Recession

A Growing Chorus Of Democrats Reject President Obama’s Plan To Raise Taxes On Small Businesses In The Middle Of A Recession

A GROWING CHORUS OF SENATE DEMOCRATS AGREE: DON’T RAISE TAXES DURING A RECESSION
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (ID-CT): “I Don't Think It Makes Sense To Raise Any Federal Taxes During The Uncertain Economy We Are Struggling Through. The more money we leave in private hands, the quicker our economic recovery will be. And that means I will do everything I can to make sure Congress extends the so-called Bush tax cuts for another year and takes action to prevent the estate tax from rising back to where it was. In our current economic situation, we cannot risk the economic headwinds that would be caused by tax increases. We need to keep as much money as possible in people's pockets and business's bank accounts.” (Sen. Lieberman, Press Release, 9/13/10)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “I Support Extending All Of The Expiring Tax Cuts Until Nebraska’s And The Nation’s Economy Is In Better Shape, And Perhaps Longer, Because Raising Taxes In A Weak Economy Could Impair Recovery. Continuing all of the tax cuts could provide certainty for families and businesses in Nebraska and nationwide.” (Sen. Nelson, Press Release, 9/9/10)

SEN. JIM WEBB (D-VA): “I Don't Think They Ought To Be Drawing A Distinction At $250-K.” “Sen Jim Webb, D-Va., on Friday questioned the wisdom of extending only a portion of the Bush tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year, joining a growing list of moderate Democrats expressing skepticism or outright opposition to allowing tax cuts for the well-to-do to expire in a recession. ‘I don't think they ought to be drawing a distinction at $250-k,’ Webb told Fox, referring to Bush-era tax rates that are now lower for couples earning more than that amount.” (“Fox News: Another Dem Questions Wisdom Of Extending Only Part Of Bush Tax Cuts,” Fox News, 9/10/10)

SEN. EVAN BAYH (D-IN): “The Economy Is Very Weak Right Now. Raising Taxes Will Lower Consumer Demand At A Time When We Want People Putting More Money Into The Economy.” (“Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Tax Cuts For The Rich,” McClatchy, 9/1/10)

SEN. KENT CONRAD (D-ND):“The General Rule Of Thumb Is That You Do Not Raise Taxes Or Cut Spending During An Economic Downturn. That Would Be Counterproductive.” (“Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Tax Cuts For The Rich,” McClatchy, 9/1/10)

A GROWING CHORUS OF OTHER DEMOCRATS AGREE: DON’T RAISE TAXES DURING A RECESSION
ROBIN CARNAHAN (D-MO): “Now Is Not The Time To Raise Taxes.” (“Carnahan Bucks Party To Support Extension Of Bush’s Tax Cuts,” The Kansas City Star, 8/19/10)

GOV. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): “I Wouldn't Raise Any Taxes.” (“Another Democrat Says Extend All Bush Tax Cuts,” Fox News, 9/15/10)

REP. BRAD ELLSWORTH (D-IN): “In Indiana, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., Who's Seeking To Replace Bayh, Told The Evansville Courier & Press This Summer That All The Bush-Era Tax Cuts Should Become Permanent.” (“Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Tax Cuts For The Rich,” McClatchy, 9/1/10)

JACK CONWAY (D-KY): “I Don't Think That A Recession Is Any Time To Raise Taxes.” (“Rand Paul Accuses Jack Conway Of Flip-Flopping,” Lexington Herald-Leader, 8/18/10)

A GROWING CHORUS OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS AGREE: DON’T RAISE TAXES DURING A RECESSION
“31 Jittery Democrats … Signed A Letter Urging Pelosi, D-Calif., And Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., To Abandon The Obama Plan And Extend To Everyone The Bush-Era Tax Cuts Due To Expire At The End Of The Year, According To One Of Its Authors, Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah.” (“More House Democrats Call For Tax Cuts For All,” The Associated Press, 9/15/10)

DEM CONGRESSMEN: “Raising Any Taxes Right Now Could Negatively Impact Economic Growth.” “We urge you to consider legislation to extend all of the income tax cuts contained in The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (P.L.#107-16). In recent weeks, we have heard from a diverse spectrum of economists, small business owners, and families who have voiced concerns that raising any taxes right now could negatively impact economic growth.” Signed By Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI), Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL), Rep. Glenn Nye (D-VA), Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY), Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Rep. John Salazar (D-CO), Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK), Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), Rep. John Barrow (D-GA), Rep. Ron Klein (D-FL), Rep. Zack Space (D-OH), Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), Rep. Allen Boyd (D-FL), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), Rep. Walt Minnick (D-ID), Rep. Travis Childers (D-MS), Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM), Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD), Rep. Jim Marshall (D-SD), Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD), Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), & Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) (. . . "Letter To Speaker Nancy Pelosi And Majority Leader Steny Hoyer," 9/15/10)

REP. TRAVIS CHILDERS (D-MS): “It Is Essential That We Keep Things As They Are In The Short Term.”(“More House Democrats Call For Tax Cuts For All,” The Associated Press, 9/15/10)

REP. JIM MARSHALL (D-GA): “We Should Not Be Raising Taxes In The Middle Of A Recession.” (“More House Democrats Call For Tax Cuts For All,” The Associated Press, 9/15/10)

REP. GERRY CONNOLLY (D-VA): “In My View This Is No Time To Do Anything That Could Be Jarring To A Fragile Recovery.” (“More Dems Buck Plan To Let Taxes Increase For Rich,” The Associated Press, 9/3/10)

REP. BOBBY BRIGHT (D-AL): “Party Leaders Are Not My Directors Or My Boss … My Boss Is My Constituents, And I've Heard From A Vast Majority Of My Constituents That They Don't Believe In Tax Increases On Anybody At This Point In Time.” (“More Dems Buck Plan To Let Taxes Increase For Rich,” The Associated Press, 9/3/10)

REP. JIM HIMES (D-CT): “The Economy Has By No Means Fully Recovered, So My Bias Is That Those High-End Tax Cuts Should Be Extended…” (“Delegation Divided Over Tax Cuts,” The CT Mirror, 9/7/10)

REP. HARRY MITCHELL (D-AZ): “I Strongly Believe That This Is The Wrong Time To Let Key Tax Cuts Expire. We Need To Encourage Investment, Not Discourage It By Letting These Cuts Expire…” (Rep. Harry Mitchell, Statement, 9/8/10)

REP. GARY PETERS (D-MI): “Extending The 2001 And 2003 Tax Cuts For All Earners Is The Right Thing To Do As Anything Less Jeopardizes Economic Recovery.” (Rep. Gary Peters, Statement, 9/8/10)

REP. RON KLEIN (D-FL): “As We Work To Rebuild The Economy, I Support A One-Year Extension Of The So-Called Bush Tax Cuts.” (“Obama, Some Dems At Odds Over Extending Bush Tax Cuts,” Palm Beach Post, 9/8/10)

REP. MICHAEL McMAHON (D-NY): “In My Head, I Know It's Not Good Policy To Raise Taxes In A Recession.” (“Democrats Find Party Unity On Tax Cuts Remains Elusive,” Dow Jones, 9/15/10)

REP. JOHN SALAZAR (D-CO): “U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., Described Himself As A Centrist Thursday And Pitched A Yearlong Extension, ‘At Least,’ Of The Bush Tax Cuts As A Way To Help Stabilize The National Economy.” (“Key To Ending Our Recession Is Energy Independence, Rep. Salazar Says,” The Daily Sentinel, 8/19/10)

REP. BRAD ELLSWORTH (D-IN): “In Indiana, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., Who's Seeking To Replace Bayh, Told The Evansville Courier & Press This Summer That All The Bush-Era Tax Cuts Should Become Permanent.” (“Democrats Unlikely To Repeal Tax Cuts For The Rich,” McClatchy, 9/1/10)

FLASHBACK ‘09: PRESIDENT OBAMA OPPOSED RAISING TAXES DURING A RECESSION
PRESIDENT OBAMA: “The Last Thing You Want To Do Is To Raise Taxes In The Middle Of A Recession Because That Would Just Suck Up -- Take More Demand Out Of The Economy And Put Businesses In A Further Hole.” (MSNBC, 8/5/09)

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