WASHINGTON, DC—Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the compromise payroll tax cut bill the U.S. House passed today on a 293-132 vote.
“The compromise payroll tax cut bill accomplishes important priorities for our economy and our nation’s working people. The bill will extend the payroll tax cut for 160 million working Americans. The bill will extend unemployment benefits for the millions of Americans who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The bill will make sure senior citizens can continue to see their Medicare doctors. And the compromise rejects many of the divisive and punitive provisions the tea party Republicans added to the House bill.
“This agreement is not perfect. I have serious objections to the continuing demonization of public servants in the federal government. We should not keep cutting their pay and benefits while refusing to ask the top one percent to pay one penny more. I’m also disappointed that this bill cuts funding for prevention, which is so important to the health of all Americans. I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Despite its shortcomings, I support this compromise to keep our economy growing.
“This Republican House Majority has taken us from one artificial crisis to another rather than passing legislation to strengthen our economy. I hope Republican leaders will now work in a bipartisan manner on the remaining items of President Obama’s jobs bill. This common sense legislation will create jobs and rebuild the economy by investing in education, helping small businesses and restoring fairness.”