Courtney statement on House Republicans’ decision to block middle class tax cuts

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today released the following statement after House Republican leadership obstructed a bipartisan agreement that would extend payroll tax cuts to middle class Americans:

"The Republican House today is playing dangerous political games by obstructing a middle class tax cut extension that would help 160 million Americans and protect our economic recovery. It is time for House Republican leaders to set aside partisanship and pass the payroll tax cut that was already approved by an overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate. The American people and the people of eastern Connecticut are looking to Washington for cooperation on this issue – not more bickering and political gamesmanship."

In addition to extending the payroll tax cut for middle class families, the bipartisan Tax Extender package also extends the Medicare "Doc Fix," preventing a scheduled 27-percent cut in payments to Medicare physicians, and extends unemployment benefits for men and women already receiving them.

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