Gerlach, Meehan Explain 'Aye' Votes on Fiscal Cliff Deal
The congressmen representing Malvern in Washington D.C. were among 85 House Republicans to vote in favor of the legislation.
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Congressman Jim Gerlach, who represents the Malvern area, was one of 85 House Republicans to vote in favor of legislation to avert the fiscal cliff on New Year's Day. House Speaker John Boehner also voted in favor of the bill, but 151 Republicans voted against it.
Gerlach released a statement defending his vote Wednesday:
Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6th District) issued the following statement after the House approved so-called fiscal cliff legislation that rolls back massive tax hikes and delays arbitrary cuts in military and other federal spending:"The choice came down to whether I would allow the President’s $4.6 trillion tax hike on every taxpayer to stand or act to repeal the tax increases for nearly all the families, small business owners and seniors in my district. An across-the-board tax hike would have meant fewer jobs and made our economy's climb out of this recession even steeper. The lower tax rates will now be permanent for approximately 99 percent of taxpayers and will restore some certainty, which countless business owners have told me is essential for spurring investment and stimulating hiring. Another key component of this legislation prevents a 26.5 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for doctors. Such a drastic reduction in reimbursement rates would have made it harder for seniors to find a doctor and jeopardized their continued access to high-quality treatment.
Make no mistake. I remain extremely concerned that the President and the Democrat leadership in the Senate continue ignoring the significant threat that our $16.4 trillion debt poses to our country's long-term financial health. I would have preferred not raising taxes on anyone or, at the very least, balancing any revenue increases with honest spending reductions. However, Senate Democrat leadership and the President refused to budge. And this is not the first time the President has balked at tackling spending. He brushed aside recommendations from his own debt commission two years ago, walked away from a House-Senate plan last summer to balance revenue increases with spending reductions and allowed the so-called fiscal cliff deadline to pass without offering serious solutions on spending. The President's pace of spending and debt levels that have grown larger than the total output of our entire economy keep driving our country to the edge of one fiscal cliff after another. And pretty soon the brakes aren't going to work and we'll find ourselves not staring at a fiscal cliff, but reeling in a fiscal free fall. Clearly, we still have plenty of work in the months ahead to provide the fiscal security and spending discipline Americans deserve.”
Congressman Pat Meehan, who represents Willistown Township until redistricting takes effect later this week, also voted in favor of the deal. In a statement on his website, he called the legislation an imperfect agreement:
I would have preferred it to contain action to get our arms around our outrageous debt. But failure to pass it would have had disastrous consequences for middle-class families in Pennsylvania and fueled even more Washington spending.
area man
11:48 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Come on Malvern Patch readers. After 12 hours, zero comments on this story, but 58 on the piece about the firing of the Eagles coach.
I'm not passing judgement on Gerlach or Meehan, or my fellow Malvern Patch readers. I just wish more of my neighbors cared as much about what's going on in Washington as they do about what's happening down at the Linc (or whatever it's called) in South Philly.
Checked my next paycheck vs the first of last year. I'll be paying over a $100 more in taxes every two weeks And I don't make anywhere near $250k per year.
Thanks Mr. President. The middle class just got hosed again.
Earnest
12:40 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Don't be fooled by all the hoopla that the Republican's have been spewing about this "Cliff Bill" because some of their favorite Corporations, I believe it is eight received Subsidies a.k.a. entitlements funded by the taxpayers. NASACAR, Railroads, Disney(Hollywood Studios), Goldman Sachs, an Off -shore financing loophole for banks, Tax credits for foreign subsidiaries, and Bonus Depreciations, R&D Tax Credit.
The Middle Class at the upper end, (those with degrees/master level degrees) that live comfortable lives without much worry did well with this deal. The upper 2 percent are pretty much untouched as going back to "Clinton era" tax levels won't impact what they do with their money. It is those 80 percent of Americans that work low wage jobs that are taking a hit on this "cliff" deal.
Since the payroll tax increase goes to Social Security and Republican's like to refer to Social Security as an "entitlement" program, even though it actually is not, as we have set that money aside for our retirement through the payroll tax deduction, I would think that Republican's would be happy about the increase so those that we will not be labeled by them as "takers" when we retire.
Personally... not thrilled with the deal, but the House is such a mess it's amazing anything got done. Hopefully with the swearing in of the new congressional members we will see more focus on working for the American people.
area man
1:01 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
This goes beyond the typical Washington pork Earnest. Remember Solyndra. I live here in Malvern. Maybe a neighbor of yours. I have a post graduate degree, but am not a member of the top 2%. My family and I will miss the $200+ every month.
Thanks again Mr. President.
By the way, how much did we spend to fly him back to Hawaii for a few more rounds of golf?
Earnest
12:44 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Gerlach's press release is more about bashing the President rather than taking personal responsibility in truthfully explaining why he voted Aye. First and foremost, we all know that Gerlach is always more concerned with his career in politics as a benefactor of the government and taxpayer dollars.
The first point of truth is that the House being controlled by Republican's needed to pass this deal, as they would bare the full responsibility of raising everyone's taxes. His pompous spin attempt in falsely claiming that the ball was in the Presidents court is complete nonsense. Seriously? he would not "allow" the President! How stupid does he think the people are? It is Congress that needed to get a deal done and the ball was in the House's court.
Don't get me wrong I think that Congress could have done something better, but with the House such a mess with radicals that have no interest in governing, my guess is that Gerlach is breathing a sign of relief that he and his colleagues will now have a better chance at keeping their careers as politicians, a.k.a. government workers.
Earnest
1:04 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
So what exactly did Gerlach vote for? According to the White House website he voted for:
-Permanently low income tax rates for the middle-class families, (not all) but 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small business owners.
- Elimination of the temporary Bush tax cuts on the top 2 percent, thereby cutting the deficit by $737 Billion, which builds on the 1 Trillion in spending cuts signed into law in 2011.
- The Child Tax Credit, for at least 5 years.
-Earned Income Tax Credit, for at least 5 years.
-American Opportunity Tax Credit, for at least 5 years.
- Extension of the Production Tax Credit.
- Extension of the Research and Experimentation Tax Credit.
- Extension of the emergency unemployment insurance for the 2 million people looking for work.
- No cuts to... Social Security benefits, Medicare, or Medicaid. - The re-elected President campaigned on standing strong on these, which is one reason many voted for him.
While this list is short, I think that it is fairly clear that this vote for Gerlach was a no brainer as these things alone are positives for the majority of the middle income level that reside in his district. Imagine what would happen to his career if all of these things went away.
area man
11:25 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
I'm not buying into more of this administration's class warfare talking points.
A couple of observations. First, there is no such thing as permanently low tax brackets. No Congress can bind a future Congress. When the current out of control spending brings us back to the edge of the abyss, raising rates will most certainly be pushed for by the Dems then in Congress. This may happen sooner than later.
Second, where are the cuts? The spending is out of control. The Administration wouldn't allow any reasonable consideration of spending cuts during the most recent negotiations.
Our current president's Robin Hood, soak the rich rhetoric is effective in duping the public who's focus is trained on their favorite sports team. Unfortunately, when they open their first paycheck of the year, they will realize that they too just got soaked.
Wake up middle class. If we don't demand that our government reduces spending, our American Dream is dead.