Fw: RELEASE: Welch and 53 House Democrats oppose Obama tax deal

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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From: "Heintz, Paul" <Paul.Heintz@mail.house.gov>

Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2010 08:19:09 -0600

To: Heintz, Paul<Paul.Heintz@mail.house.gov>

Subject: RELEASE: Welch and 53 House Democrats oppose Obama tax deal

Congressman Peter Welch

United States House of Representatives

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, December 9, 2010

 

CONTACT:

Paul Heintz

202.226.8346 (o)

202.577.7970 (c)

 

Welch and 53 House Democrats oppose Obama tax deal

               

In letter to Speaker, they say "Don't back down" from commitment to middle class

               

WASHINGTON, DC – In a significant demonstration of opposition to President Obama's tax deal, Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and 53 members of the U.S. House came out against the President's proposal Thursday morning.

 

In a letter sent to Speaker Pelosi Thursday, Welch and his colleagues called the proposal "fiscally irresponsible" and "grossly unfair."

 

"America is wading into fiscal quicksand. Borrowing nearly a trillion dollars to finance tax cuts that disproportionately favor millionaires and billionaires threatens our ability to create jobs, grow the middle class and protect seniors," Welch said. "Digging the country deeper into debt to pay for misguided tax policy is irresponsible and simply doesn't make sense."

 

The letter, which Welch authored and first circulated late Monday, was signed by: Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Judy Chu, Yvette Clark, Steve Cohen, John Conyers, Elijah Cummings, Danny Davis, Peter DeFazio, Donna Edwards, Keith Ellison, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Bob Filner, Barney Frank, John Garamendi, Alan Grayson, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, Alcee Hastings, Martin Heinrich, Maurice Hinchey, Rush Holt, Jay Inslee, Jesse Jackson, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Paul Kanjorski, Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee, John Lewis, Ben Ray Lujan, Steven Lynch, Doris Matsui, Jim McDermott, Mike Michaud, Jim Oberstar, John Olver, Chellie Pingree, David Price, Tim Ryan, Linda Sanchez, Jan Schakowsky, Carol Shea-Porter, Adam Smith, Jackie Speier, Pete Stark, Betty Sutton, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson, Paul Tonko, Anthony Weiner, Lynn Woolsey, David Wu and John Yarmuth.

 

The full text of the letter is copied below:

 

 

Dear Madam Speaker,

 

We oppose acceding to Republican demands to extend the Bush tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires for two reasons.

 

First, it is fiscally irresponsible. Adding more than $900 billion to our national debt, as this proposal would do, handcuffs our ability to offer a balanced plan to achieve fiscal stability without a punishing effect on our current commitments, including Social Security and Medicare.  

 

Second, it is grossly unfair. This proposal will hurt, not help, the majority of Americans in the middle class and those working hard to get there. Even as Republicans seek to add billions more to our national debt in tax cuts to the wealthy, they oppose extending unemployment benefits to workers and resist COLA increases to seniors.

 

Without a doubt, the very same people who support this addition to our debt will oppose raising the debt ceiling to pay for it. 

 

We support extending tax cuts in full to 98 percent of American taxpayers, as the President initially proposed. He should not back down. Nor should we. 

 

Sincerely,

 

PETER WELCH

Member of Congress

 

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Fw: Chairman Lincoln's Opening Statement at Hearing on Nomination ofUSDA General Counsel

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From: "Rowe, Courtney (Agriculture)" <Courtney_Rowe@agriculture.senate.gov>

Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2010 09:44:54 -0600

Subject: Chairman Lincoln's Opening Statement at Hearing on Nomination of USDA General Counsel

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 9, 2010

Contact: Courtney Rowe, Ben Becker (202) 224-2035

 

 

 

Opening Statement of the Honorable Blanche L. Lincoln, Chairman

 

Hearing on the Nomination of USDA General Counsel

 

December 9, 2010

 

 

As prepared for delivery.

  

"I call the Committee to order.  Thank you all for being here today.  The Committee is meeting to consider the nomination of Ramona Emilia Romero to be General Counsel for the United States Department of Agriculture.

"Considering and approving the President's nominees is a fundamental constitutional obligation of the Senate.  It is a responsibility that I take seriously, and gladly perform in order to confirm qualified and eager nominees so that they can carry out the vital functions of their respective agencies. 

"Ms. Romero, on behalf of the Committee, I extend a welcome to you, your family, and friends who are here today.  Congratulations on your nomination.  It represents your phenomenal academic, professional, and personal success.  Thank you for seeking a nomination which will bring your considerable talent to the USDA and public service.

"I'd like to recognize Senator Casey, who will introduce Ms. Romero.

"The USDA's Office of General Counsel provides legal counsel and services to the Secretary of Agriculture.  The Counsel's practice is as broad as the services performed by the agencies within the USDA.  Ms. Romero, if confirmed, you will be ultimately responsible for diverse legal functions such as litigation and rulemaking within issue areas ranging from civil rights to natural resources.  The General Counsel's job is a daunting one, but absolutely essential to the Department's mission.  The General Counsel must ensure that the Department acts within the authority granted to it by Congress, especially when promulgating rules and regulations to administer programs such as the controversial new GIPSA regulations."

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