Local Lawmakers Respond to Fiscal Cliff Deal

Elected Arkansas leaders have responded to the House and Senate vote on avoiding the Fiscal Cliff.  Senators John Boozman and Mary Pryor were both among those who supported the bill.

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R) released the following statement on the vote:

“I am proud that we were able to come to an agreement to prevent the largest tax hike in American history. This bipartisan solution tackles the financial troubles our country is facing while avoiding tax increases for Arkansas families and small businesses. However, there is no reason we should wait until the last minute to address these important policy decisions. We need to provide certainty for families and job creators. I am ready in the next Congress to continue to address the need to get Washington’s spending under control and this starts with sound financial planning and passing a budget in the Senate.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Mark Pryor (D) responded to the vote with the following:

“I’m pleased Senate Democrats and Republicans were able to prevent our country from going over the fiscal cliff. 

Last night the Senate passed a package on a bipartisan basis to prevent tax increases on middle-class Americans, create a permanent AMT patch, fix the estate tax to give Arkansas small businesses and family farms the certainty they need, and provide critical tax credits for hard-working families.

That being said, I know some may not agree with all the details of this plan. But that’s the art of compromise and consensus building, and I hope we see more of it as Congress works to improve our economy.”

In the House of Representatives Congressman Steve Womack was among those voicing support of the fiscal cliff deal. However Womack voiced concern over the fact that congress did not vote on the nation’s debt.

Congressman Steve Womack released the following statement on his support for the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8):

 “While I am disappointed this deal failed to address America’s most pressing issue – spending and our $16.4 trillion debt – it was imperative that we prevented the massive tax hike on the millions of Americans who can least afford it.  The notion that because we didn’t get the spending cuts we wanted and should therefore raise taxes is absurd, and the discussion on spending is far from over. 

With H.R. 8’s passage and the permanent extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for 99 percent of Americans, the President can no longer use the ‘class warfare’ narrative; he now owns this economy.  If he continues to dig his heels in and refuses to come to the table on spending, he will have failed as a leader.

 The debate on the debt ceiling – which Secretary Geithner reported that we formally reached last night – and the expiration of the CR in March must address our unsustainable spending.  If Congress cannot do this, we will have failed America.”

In Oklahoma, Republican Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn both voted in favor of the bill.