Late Thursday night, the House of Representatives passed the Senate Tax proposal negotiated by Senate Republicans and President Obama by a vote of 277 to 148. The Senate proposal was an amendment to H.R. 4853 the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010 which was passed out of the House last week. The Senate amendment made changes to the original House bill, which provided tax relief for middle income families, includes the most egregious give-aways to the wealthiest of Americans. 

“Last evening, I voted against the tax proposal that was passed in the House of Representatives. At a time when our nation is facing a 9.8% unemployment rate, with social security recipients being denied a cost of living adjustment for the second year in a row, and the most obstinate economic down turn in a generation, I could not in good conscious vote to provide an estate tax give-away and extend the Bush era tax cuts to the wealthiest individuals in our nation. I consider this legislation to be an extension of the same fiscal policies that were put in place under the Bush Administration and that has dramatically increased our nation’s deficit,as well as, added to the challenges of the recovery of our nation’s economy,” stated Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

The tax proposal includes extending tax cuts for the wealthy, changes to the estate tax that benefit only a handful of the wealthiest American families and comes at a cost of nearly one trillion dollars over ten years. 

“While I understand that extending the Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits for thirteen months is sorely needed, I also believe that the damaging results that these tax policies will have on the deficit will ultimately empower Republicans to attack and dismantle the social safety-net that residents of my district rely upon,” added Rep. Clarke. “I refuse to be complicit with policies that reward the greed of a handful of our nation’s wealthiest individuals, while hard working Americans and their families are left with policies that leave them struggling in the cold now and for generations to come.” 

“Many of my constituents called my office expressing their unequivocol discontent with this Senate tax proposal. As the Representative of the 11th Congressional District of New York, I will always work to ensure that their voices are heard in Congress. It is a moral imperative that we fight for and protect the least amongst us during these tough economic times. I will continue to fight so that we all may have the opportunity to strengthen, achieve, and preserve the American Dream,” concluded Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.