Craig Williams Questions Sestak's Claim on Budget Bill

Press Release

Craig Williams, the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's Seventh District, today said that a variety of respected news sources, including the Associated Press, Congress Daily, and Congressional Quarterly all contradict claims by Congressman Joe Sestak's office that the budget bill approved by Democrats in the House of Representatives does not increase taxes.

"I'm willing to give Congressman Sestak the benefit of the doubt and assume he honestly did not know the budget bill he supported increased taxes," said Craig Williams, a former federal prosecutor, Marine combat veteran, and former active duty Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "But I am not sure which is worse, voting on legislation without a full understanding of the ramifications on local voters or deliberately trying to distort the contents of this budget legislation."

The issue arose when a Sestak spokesperson responded to Williams' criticism of Sestak's vote on the Democrat House budget resolution. That budget resolution increases federal government spending by increasing taxes through reinstituting the marriage penalty tax, slashing the per child tax credit, and increasing income tax rates. According to an independent analysis of the bill, this would result in an average $2,796 tax increase per taxpayer in the 7th Congressional District. During debate on the bill, Sestak also voted against a moratorium on Congressional earmarks.

Responding to William's criticism, Sestak's spokesperson, Alix Gerz incorrectly stated:

"Not only does this legislation not raise taxes it also minimizes fiscal burdens, provides immediate relief for middle-income families and supports middle-income tax relief via an extension of marriage penalty relief, extension of the 10 percent individual income tax bracket and an extension of the child tax credit, among other tax relief provisions for middle-class Americans." (Source: The Bulletin, March 25, 2008)

A variety of independent news sources contradict that inaccurate claim:

The House has approved a budget blueprint that would raise taxes for millions of Americans by $683 billion over the next five years. It would also give generous increases to domestic programs… Across the Capitol, the Senate endorsed extending some tax cuts aimed at low-income workers, married couples and people with children. Emphasis added (Source: House OK's Budget with Tax Hikes, The Associated Press, March 13, 2008).

"Democrats in the House and Senate are divided on taxes. The House budget plan assumes elimination of the full roster of Bush tax cuts." (Source: House, Senate endorse tax hikes; The Associated Press, March 13, 2008)

"The Democratic plans stick to tax revenue estimates that assume the expiration of tax cuts on income, investments, married couples and people with children as well as those inheriting large estates." (Source: The Associated Press, March 5, 2008)

"The numbers assume expiration of Bush's 2001 and 2003 cuts as scheduled at the end of 2010, which Republicans seized on as paving the way for major tax increases." (Source: CongressDaily PM, March 5, 2008)

"Debate over the House and Senate budget resolutions will focus on whether to extend the president's signature 2001 and 2003 tax cuts (PL 107-16, PL 108-27). Most of the cuts do not expire until 2010, but because the resolutions cover a five-year period, Democrats must account for their fate when deciding how much tax revenue to include in the plans. The blueprints will assume tax figures in line with what the government would collect if the tax cuts expire, prompting criticism from Republicans." (Source: Congressional Quarterly, March 5, 2008).

"I have no problem debating Congressman Sestak on the issues, but lets at least stick to the facts," said Williams. "Perhaps Congressman Sestak and his staff thought that he was voting on the Senate version of the bill, which may extend some of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for lower and middle-income families. But the House budget that Congressman Sestak voted for will end the tax cuts and will hit my neighbors hard. The 7th Congressional District will be the third hardest hit district in the State of Pennsylvania. It is a shame that Congressman Sestak did not know that before he voted to increase taxes."

Craig Williams is the endorsed Republican candidate for the office of U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, comprising of most of Delaware County and parts of Montgomery and Chester Counties. Williams is a former federal prosecutor, Marine combat veteran, and former active duty Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He lives in Concord Township, Delaware County, with his wife Jennifer, daughter and two step-children. The 7th District is his home - where he lives, where his kids go to school, where he pays taxes, where he attends church, and where he intends to spend the rest of his life.

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