Larson Stands Up for Seniors, Working Families, Votes Against Tax Compromise

For Immediate Release: December 16, 2010

Contact: Paul Mounds 860-278-8888/860-539-4924

Larson Stands Up for Seniors, Working Families

Washington, DC- Today, Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, stood up for seniors and working families in Connecticut and across the nation by voting against the Obama/McConnell tax package.

"Social Security is a public trust -- it's nonnegotiable. So while this tax deal has been called a compromise, I refuse to compromise on the backs of seniors and working families. In its current form, this deal represents a full frontal assault on Social Security. It would begin the unraveling of this crucial program in exchange for giveaways to millionaires and billionaires," said Congressman Larson.

"It's bad enough that this bill would blow a trillion-dollar hole in our deficit, leaving our children and grandchildren with crippling debt -- but the fact that it does this by raiding the Social Security system, denying seniors a cost-of-living-adjustment for the second year in a row, and giving away billions to the wealthiest Americans is simply unacceptable."

"This week I heard directly from residents in my district- at a public forum in South Windsor, in phone calls and letters – and they stated their overwhelming opposition to this legislation."

"A senior woman from South Windsor, whose sole income is her Social Security benefit, told me that she has to choose between buying groceries, heating her house, and getting her medicine. She will not receive a COLA next year and during these tough economic times, we cannot cut the Social Security benefits of thousands like her in Connecticut."

"I also spoke to Barbara Kennelly, the President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and my longtime friend. Barbara is one of our nation's leading advocates for Social Security and she underscored how the payroll tax cut portion of this measure will affect the long term viability of this bedrock program. She agreed that this legislation is a clear assault by Congressional Republicans on Social Security and the middle class of America."

"Earlier this month, the House passed the Middle Class Tax Relief Act. If my Republican colleagues were serious about creating jobs and standing on the side of working families, more of them would have joined us in voting to cut taxes for middle class Americans. Instead, House and Senate Republicans have chosen to hold the American economy hostage, add a trillion dollars to our national debt and add further uncertainty to our nation's financial markets."

 

 

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