Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, sales are suffering, the economy remains stagnant, and millions of hardworking Americans are looking for work. Arkansans believe that the recent Obama-Pelosi health care bill, cap-and-trade, and other job-killing tax increases will hurt, not help, our struggling economy.
We should take action to help businesses get on their feet by focusing on job creation as opposed to some of the misplaced priorities. New taxes and health care mandates are harming smaller firms and businesses. The so-called stimulus bill is not creating long-term jobs but is increasing the budget deficit and sending the bill, plus interest, to tomorrow's taxpayers.
Congress must stop growing the tax burden and creating job-killing policies. Tax relief and incentives for small businesses would help all Americans, especially the middle class, and get our economy back on track. The key to this will be fiscal discipline. Now is the time to put a cap on Washington spending and to focus on the economic issues that matter instead of further inflating the national debt.