Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives adjourned until November 15^th, leaving town a week early, with much work left undone. Congressman Mike Conaway joined Republicans in protesting adjournment until Congress addressed tax increases set to go into effect on January 1, 2011.  

The motion to adjourn passed 210-209, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi casting a rare tie-breaking vote.  Conway made the following statement regarding the Democrats’ decision to leave town with an unfinished agenda:

“I am highly disappointed with the level of irresponsibility in the Democrat leadership’s decision to adjourn for the Fall with so much left to be done. Because the Democrats refused to address the tax hikes taking effect in January, small businesses will suffer, jobs will be lost, and American families will be hit hard once again by massive tax hikes. The tax increases include restoring the marriage penalty, cutting the child tax credit and resurrecting the death tax. 

“The Republican plan, a Pledge to America, offered a specific plan to help create jobs, which includes stopping all the tax hikes.  This is an agenda that could have been voted on this week if the Speaker would have allowed it.”

The Tax Foundation estimated that the median family of four saved about $2,200 in federal taxes each year that the Bush Tax Cuts were in place. Much of this savings will vanish if these tax provisions are allowed to expire.