PRESS RELEASE: U.S. Representative Massie Votes No on Fiscal Cliff Deal

Jan 2, 2013

“This plan is Washington kicking the can down the road”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) voted against the latest deal aimed at averting the so-called fiscal cliff. H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, passed in the House 257-167.

“This plan is Washington kicking the can down the road,” said Massie. “The modest spending cuts agreed to in the 2011 debt ceiling deal are postponed by this bill. This bill does nothing to reform our bloated tax code—in fact the bill perpetuates Obama’s failed stimulus spending within the tax code. Finally, it fails to address entitlement reform or the solvency of Social Security and Medicare.”

“Democrats and Republicans in Congress are once again committing doublespeak by labeling tax increases as tax cuts, and spending increases as spending cuts. I am confident that the American people will see through this.”

Early Tuesday morning the Senate voted to endorse a fiscal cliff deal reached between Senate leadership and Vice President Joe Biden. The legislation, which passed in the Senate 89-8, postpones spending cuts and increases taxes.

“The citizens of Kentucky’s 4th District sent me to Washington to implement real solutions,” Massie continued. “My constituents know that only real and immediate spending cuts can avert our nation’s impending debt crisis.”

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