News release from Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-3rd):
Stutzman to “Super Committee”: Don’t Increase the Tax Burden
(Washington, D.C., November 17, 2011) – This week, Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) urged members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction not to raise taxes. Stutzman joined 71 of his Republican colleagues in signing a letter that was led by Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10).
“Washington won’t be able to tax its way out of the spending mess it created,” said Stutzman. “I’m opposed to any revenue increase that comes from tax rate increases. I’ve said before that I won’t vote for a plan that hikes taxes and it’s as simple as that. I’ll keep pushing for a plan that makes real cuts to an out-of-control budget and genuine reforms to Washington’s broken process.”
The text of the letter:
Dear Representative Hensarling, Senator Murray, and Members of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction:
It is evident that America has a fiscal crisis because Washington spends too much, not because it taxes too little. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, tax revenues will reach or exceed the historical average of 18 percent of economic output by the end of this decade, even as spending continues to increase at an unsustainable rate. Increasing taxes on Americans would destroy jobs, erase all hope of an economic recovery, and simply serve to feed out-of-control spending in Washington.
Thus, as you continue the important task to reach a deficit reduction agreement, we ask that any policies the Joint Select Committee prescribes not increase Americans’ tax burden. With current levels of taxation already limiting economic growth, we believe that marginal rates must be maintained or lowered and that repeal of any tax credit or deduction be offset with an equal or greater tax cut.
Although there are diverse beliefs toward specific policies that should be included in any deficit reduction plan, we must recognize that increasing the tax burden on American businesses and citizens, especially during a fragile recovery, is irresponsible and dangerous to the health of the United States.
Congressman Stutzman represents the 3rd Congressional District of Indiana and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on the Budget and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Indiana’s 3rd District contains all of DeKalb, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley counties, as well as parts of Allen and Elkhart counties.
Related web links:
Congressman Stutzman’s website
Complete list of cosigners.