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Boustany Votes to Block 130% Tax Increase, Urges True Fiscal Accountability by Congress

Nov 9 2007
 
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (R-Lafayette) today voted against a 130% tax increase proposed by Washington Democrats.
 
“So-called tax relief isn’t relief when it raises taxes on Americans by 130%.” said Boustany. “The people of Southwest Louisiana don’t support raising taxes when Washington wastes taxpayers’ dollars on a regular basis. Tax and spend frivolously is no way to govern.”
 
The bill, H.R. 3996, titled “The Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007,” attempts to correct the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for only one year. However, Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN) admitted in an interview on Wednesday that “[the bill] is a 130-percent tax increase” according to CongressDaily AM. It is the second proposed tax hike by House Democratic Leaders in less than a month. 
 
H.R. 3996 was passed on a party-line vote, 216-193. 
 
The other potential tax increase, introduced by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY), would raise taxes $3.5 trillion over the next 10 years; starting with an average hike of $267 per person next year. In addition, delays past November in finalizing tax policy could result in a significant delay for Americans’ tax returns next year. The IRS is scheduled to complete tax forms for 2007 by the end of November, but setbacks by Congress would slow their work.
 
Boustany continued, “Congress must put the needs of American families first. We need true tax reform to extend breaks for charitable giving, tuition, and retirement savings – that’s what Southwest Louisiana needs.”
 
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