Gary Peters Votes Against Republican Bill to Protect Millionaires

Press Release

Today Rep. Gary Peters voted against a Republican bill to put the wealthiest 1% above middle class families. This bill comes as Congress works to wrap up necessary year end votes to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance benefits before both expire. If there is no agreement by midnight on New Year's Eve, middle class families will see their taxes increase by about $1,000 next year and recipients of unemployment insurance will lose benefits.

The Democratic plan is simple, increase the payroll tax cut to an average of $1,500 for each middle class family and extend unemployment insurance benefits for those that have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. And the Democratic plan is fiscally responsible by introducing a modest surtax on the fortunate few that have been able to make more than $1 million per year.

Sadly, once again, Republicans have decided to continue protecting the 1% and refuse to see millionaires and billionaires paying their fair share. In their bill, which passed the House tonight by a vote of 234-193, Republicans refused to increase the middle class tax cut, slashed unemployment benefits and attached several deal breaking partisan provisions to the bill while preventing millionaires from having to pay a single cent more. The Republican bill not only protects the 1%, it actually hurts the 99% by cutting federal unemployment benefits from 99 weeks to 59 weeks, and slashes $21 billion in Affordable Care Act programs which will force 170,000 Americans to lose their insurance.

"When I was first sworn in as a Member of Congress in January 2009 our economy was shedding hundreds of thousands of jobs every month," said Rep. Gary Peters. "While our economy is now adding jobs instead of losing them, many of those who have lost their jobs are finding it incredibly difficult to reenter the workforce. For a state like Michigan, which continues to suffer from high unemployment, the changes Republicans are trying to make to the Unemployment Insurance program would be devastating. Republicans should stop playing games with middle class families and pass a clean extension of the payroll tax cut that does not cut important benefits for unemployed workers."

Below are some of the key differences between the Democratic and Republican proposals:

Payroll Tax Cut:

Democrats: In 2010, Democrats passed a payroll tax cut to reduce rates for middle class families from 6.2% to 4.2%. Because it was successful at putting money back into the pockets of middle class Americans, Democrats propose extending and expanding the program to provide an average tax cut of about $1,430 for Michigan families by dropping the rates to 3.1%. This would be funded by a modest surtax on those that are fortunate enough to be making over $1 million per year.

Republicans: The Republican plan allows millionaires to continue benefitting from the lowest tax rates they've seen in two decades.

Unemployment Insurance Extension

Democrats: During these tough economic times, Democrats know that for every $1 spent on unemployment benefits, the economy grows by $2, and these necessary funds keep families that are facing serious challenges from falling into poverty. This is why Gary Peters and Democrats are fighting hard to continue funding the availability of 99 weeks of unemployment for workers that have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Republicans: The Republican plan would slash unemployment benefits by 40 weeks, throwing thousands of families already facing challenges into financial turmoil -- Those making $1 million or more continue to enjoy the lowest tax rates since 1992.

Partisan riders:

Democrats: The Democratic Plan is simple - Pass a bill to ensure that middle class families don't see their taxes increase and are actually able to put more money in their pocket at the end of the day, and making sure that unemployed Americans don't see their support stream cut off.

Republicans: Close out 2011 the same way they've behaved all year - by using a necessary bill as an opportunity to hijack the legislative process. This time, Republicans are demanding a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days before it's been fully studied, and they want to cut $21 billion from Affordable Care Act programs which would force 170,000 million Americans to join the ranks of the uninsured.

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