WATCH: Roskam: GOP Will Not Raise Taxes on Small Businesses
Posted on 07/11/2011 at 07:00 PM
Interview on PBS NewsHour
Excerpt: “Republicans are committed to making sure that small businesses don't see a tax hike at a time when job creation is something that we are so hungry for, and that they are interested in a game-changer. In other words, the notion that we can borrow and spend our way into prosperity is a fool's errand. It hasn't worked. We’re 29 months out from a stimulus bill, and unemployment is still over nine percent. We're 12 months out from the so-called recovery summer, and it's been a miserable failure. Let's acknowledge the failure. Let's move in a different direction, and let's move forward.”
WASHINGTON – Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chief Deputy Whip, appeared on PBS’ NewsHour last evening to discuss the latest on debt ceiling negotiations alongside Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).
On the Latest on Negotiations:
“I think the big stumbling block right now is the president's insistence on raising taxes. And I think we need to go back two years ago, in 2009, when President Obama was asked in Elkhart, Ind., do you raise taxes during a recession? And he very eloquently, I think, answered the question. And he said, no, don't do that. And he laid out the economic reasons for not doing that. Now, look, this economy is begging for mercy. We're at 9.2 percent unemployment. And I think it's time to move off of this notion that somehow the remedy is to increase taxes on job-creators. Let's focus in on these cuts. Let's make thoughtful and wise cuts. And let's come together on this in a fashion that makes sense all the way around.”
“If the president had devoted the same level of commitment and energy to cutting and those types of things and prioritizing that he has to raising taxes, I think we would be in a different position.”
“Republicans are committed to making sure that small businesses don't see a tax hike”
“Republicans are committed to making sure that small businesses don't see a tax hike at a time when job creation is something that we are so hungry for, and that they are interested in a game-changer. In other words, the notion that we can borrow and spend our way into prosperity is a fool's errand. It hasn't worked. We’re 29 months out from a stimulus bill, and unemployment is still over nine percent. We're 12 months out from the so-called recovery summer, and it's been a miserable failure. Let's acknowledge the failure. Let's move in a different direction, and let's move forward.”
Raising the Individual Tax Rate Would Directly Hit Small Businesses:
“The Joint Committee on Taxation, which is a nonpartisan or a bipartisan entity here in the United States Congress, has said that 94 percent of all small businesses pay taxes at the individual income tax rate. So, what does that mean? That means, when you raise the individual income tax rate, you are having an adverse impact. You're raising taxes on job-creators.”
On Republicans Leading:
“Well, we took on Medicare. For example, we said let's deal with folks who are basically in my age group. I'm 50 years old. Take ages 54 and below, and you come up with a different trajectory on Medicare. So, House Republicans have taken those tough votes and I think are prepared to stand by them.”