U.S. Congressman Dan Webster | 8th District of Florida

Washington, Aug 1 - U.S. Representative Daniel Webster (FL-08), a cosponsor of H.R. 6169, urged the U.S. Senate and his House colleagues to protect small business owners and advance comprehensive tax reform through H.R. 6169 as it comes to the House floor for a vote tomorrow. This is a decisive reform that expedites overdue and vital reform of our nation’s complicated and antiquated tax code, Webster applauded its passage yesterday through the Committee on Rules, of which he is a member, and called on the Senate to provide a pathway for this pro-growth tax reform. In addition to outlining the principles for the upcoming tax reform bill, such as lowering both individual and corporate tax rates, H.R. 6169 ensures both the House and Senate must act by setting up a series of expedited procedures for consideration of this important legislation. After seeing over 32 jobs bills go to the Senate and get stale from inaction, Webster supports this move to require the advancement of this critical job-creation tool.

“By clearing away all the Washington gimmicks that have been used to protect special interest carve outs and providing a step-by-step process for comprehensive tax reform, a simpler, flatter code that lowers rates and brings needed simplicity to the filing process, is now on the horizon for all individuals, families and small business owners. All Central Floridians will reap the benefits of a shorter, simpler and more straightforward tax process which allows them to keep more of what they earned to enhance their personal financial security and grow our economy.

“The expedited procedures included by the Rules Committee in this bill guarantee more than just political lip service from Washington about the need to simplify what has become our tangled tax code. Steps have been taken to streamline the process and ensure that Congress will deliver on comprehensive tax reform. By reducing and providing clarity to our tax code, Americans will save $160 billion and an estimated 6 billion hours of precious time per year just to comply with the bureaucracy of our current tax system. I’m pleased to support this necessary step to begin getting Washington out of the way of individuals and small business owners so that they can keep more of their hard-earned money to grow their business, create jobs and revitalize the economy,” stated Webster.

In addition to advancing comprehensive tax reform this week, the House just passed H.R. 8, the Job Protection and Recession Prevention Act of 2012, by a bipartisan vote of 256-171, to stop the President’s planned tax hike on small business owners and hardworking taxpayers. See Webster’s speech in the House Rules Committee about his personal story of a three-generation small business in Central Florida. Click here.

• Prevent the President’s planned tax increase on small business owners;
• Maintain the $1,000 child credit;
• Simplify the tax code for All Americans;
• Maintain existing tax rates and thus prevent a tax hike on January 1, 2013;
• Continue marriage penalty relief;
• Maintain a 15% top rate on dividends and capital gains;
• Preserve repeal of PEP and Pease;
• Maintain the estate tax at its 2011 and 2012 parameters (indexed for inflation);
• Provide higher Sec. 179 small business expensing limits;
• Preserve certain education-related benefits; and
• Provide a two-year AMT patch (covering 2012 and 2013).