WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., is among the House Republicans pushing a broad-based set of tax cuts as an alternative to government spending measures to stimulate the economy.
Scalise, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and an assistant whip for his party, says Democratic proposals “seems to be very, very heavily focused on new government spending.”
“That’s not the kind of direction we need to go to stimulate the economy,” Scalise says.
Democrats last week unveiled an $825 billion proposal to invest in infrastructure, assist those who’ve lost jobs or healthcare, develop energy efficient technologies and alternative fuels and cut middle class taxes.
But Scalise says the proposal, which includes about $550 billion in spending and approximately $275 billion in tax cuts, is out of balance.
“I don’t think that’s a fair deal for the taxpayers to have such a small portion of this whole package focused on tax cuts, when most of its going to government spending, which doesn’t really help turn the economy around,” he says.
Republicans are putting together an alternative proposal that includes an across the board cut in income taxes as well as tax cuts for businesses and on capital gains.
“It’s very heavy on tax relief for middle class families and businesses to grow the economy,” says Scalise, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
The Republican alternative will also require a 1 percent cut in discretionary spending by the Federal government, Scalise said.
That’s required, he said, “to show that government’s tightening its belt.”
“If you look across the country, all of our states are facing shortfalls. They’re tightening their belts,” Scalise says. “Families that are facing shortfalls are tightening their belts. It seems that Washington is the only place that seems to be going on a spending spree. You can’t spend your way out if this problem.”
