Congress: It is time to put up or shut up

President Obama’s administration continues the fight for tax cuts for the middle class, meeting with Congressmen, Senators, business and civic leaders from both inside and outside the Beltway to discuss plans for raising taxes on the super rich and to discuss plans for creating new jobs and fostering strong economic growth.

With respect to the fiscal cliff, leaders from both sides of the aisle have pledged to cooperate over the weeks ahead to take action as quickly as possible with several prominent Republicans publicly speaking out against Grover Norquist’s no tax pledge.

Washington Republicans seem to be considering a solution that works for both parties, with a new willingness to consider leaving tax revenue on the table as a component of a balanced effort to reduce the nation’s deficit.

At the same time the Obama administration has continually shown support for the idea of looking at both tax revenue and spending cuts to bring down the deficit in a fair and balanced way.

Moving forwards, it is increasingly important for Republicans to put an end to public rhetoric and instead to lay out specific details on their own plan as well as relating what points of the administration’s plan that they will consider.

Moving into the Christmas holidays, it is increasingly important that both parties come together to renew the tax cuts for the middle class, so working Americans can have some added security during this critical time in our nation’s economy.

This is vital as in doing so, we can avoid a blow to consumer spending which currently accounts for roughly 70% of the nation’s economy.

Through an extension of middle class tax cuts, every single American will receive a tax break on the first $250,000 of their income. Moreover, income taxes will not increase at all for 98% of families across the country as well as 97% of small businesses. But if Congress doesn’t pass an extension, hardworking families will get hit with an income tax hike of $2,200 in a matter of only a couple weeks.

Americans are all in agreement that taxes shouldn’t be increased on the middle class. The House has received a bill from the Senate to extend tax cuts on the middle class. There is no need for delay.

Furthermore, one of the most significant actions we can take for our economic security is laying the foundation for middle-class job growth over the long term through a reduction in the deficit.

President Obama’s plan brings down the deficit by $4 trillion – taking a balanced approach that asks the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share and continues making the investments needed for economic growth. Already, the President has signed $1 trillion in spending cuts, and he is eager to work with both parties on a balanced effort to continue reducing the deficit.

Though President Obama has already proposed a detailed plan to bring down the deficit, he is not married to every single piece of it. The President remains open to reaching a compromise, but throughout these discussions, his bottom line will be a balanced approach that’s best for middle-class families.

The problems we face are difficult, but they can be solved. President Obama has emphasized for months that he will work hard each and every day for America’s middle class – fighting to move our nation forward and build our economy not from the top down, but from the middle out.

President Obama’s agenda for the second term is producing more jobs and bringing back middle-class security through key investments in small businesses, American manufacturing, education, and clean energy. The President is ready and willing to get down to business – working with both Democrats and Republicans to move the middle class forward.

It is time Congress set aside the partisan bickering and begin performing the job they were elected to do. Our nation’s future depends on cooperation.

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