Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Statement on Amendments to the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2015
WASHINGTON– Last night, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), and CPC First-Vice Chair Mark Pocan (D-WI) released the following statement following the vote on two CPC-supported amendments to the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2015:
“While Republicans continue to push a false choice between cutting vital programs and defaulting, they refuse to acknowledge that policies protecting tax loopholes for corporations result in the loss of hundreds of billions in federal revenue each year. Corporations once contributed one out of every three dollars in federal revenue; today that ratio is one out of every ten. Our amendment would require the Treasury Department to examine our corporate and individual tax policies to determine who is really paying their fair share. It would also require the Department to further study the impact that years of flatlining wages and budget cuts have had on working families.
“Republicans seem to have amnesia about the harm caused by their massive tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. They talk about closing tax loopholes, but they keep pushing budgets the cut essential social programs, and never actually do anything to protect or increase the incomes of working families. We must do more to ensure that working Americans are able to provide for their families and help grow the economy.
“By rejecting our amendment today, every Republican voted to refuse to even begin discussing wages, and insisted instead on pushing forward their agenda of debt fear mongering. This is an injustice to struggling American families who want to know when, if ever, their wages will go up. It is past time to stop suppressing wages with policy choices that are solely dedicated to helping wealthy corporate interests. Today leaves no doubt about the Republican agenda – they will choose austerity at any cost.”
Rep. Grijalva Floor Speech on Corporate Taxes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM44sda6LSE&feature=youtu.be
Rep. Grijalva Floor Speech on Wages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UacnbnTrQgA&feature=youtu.be
