Tonight, the House of Representatives passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, commonly known as the fiscal cliff bill.  I could not support this bill.  While the fiscal cliff was a real threat to our economy, the mushrooming debt is an even greater threat to our future.  At the end of the day, our debt is not a Democrat or Republican problem, it is an American problem, and it will require significant spending restraint to resolve.   Unfortunately, the bill that passed tonight does not move us forward toward solving the $16.4 trillion national debt that looms over every American.  

There were very strong and compelling reasons to vote either way on this bill, and I have great respect for my principled colleagues who voted for it.  This bill made the tax rates permanent for the first time in over a decade, providing certainty for our economy.  The Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) trap was fixed, the dairy subsidy was fixed, the irrational congressional pay increase was stopped, and many of the other tax issues were adjusted for those in poverty through the middle class.  But the bill also further burdens Medicare providers, increases tax subsidies in a time when we are trying to simplify the tax code, and increases federal spending by several billion dollars.  For years the President has consistently called for a balanced approach of spending cuts and tax increases, while House Republicans have rightly pointed out that Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.  Unfortunately, this bill lacks the “balance” required to address our long-term fiscal issues.  

No amount of taxation can pull our nation out of debt.  Even with tonight’s tax increase on “the wealthy,” our deficit for 2013 will still be at or over one trillion dollars for the fifth year in a row.  For our children’s sake, I hope the President will actually follow through on his promise to work with Congress to restrain spending in the coming months.  This means actual, immediate spending cuts, reforming unsustainable entitlement programs, and overhauling the cumbersome and complicated tax code. 

I have personally spoken to Speaker Boehner, who is committed this year to propose and pass meaningful solutions to get our fiscal house in order and put us on a path to solve our national debt.  Tonight was only one step in a long journey.  Please continue to email, call, and utilize Twitter and Facebook to voice your comments and concerns on this or any other legislative issues.

P.S. – For those of you who called my office and emailed me outraged at President Obama’s Executive Order to give Members of Congress a pay raise next year, I shared your frustration.  You’ll be glad to know the House of Representatives passed a separate congressional pay freeze tonight by a 287-129 vote; I voted with the majority. It is one more example of how we need to CUT spending, not INCREASE it.