Cong Mike Pence On the Record with Greta about House Adjournment before Voting on Tax Cuts

Pence Goes On the Record to Discuss the Need to Stop Democrat Tax Hikes

"Members of Congress are going to adjourn the Congress to go home so they can work to save their jobs with not having lifted a finger to protect the jobs of millions of Americans”

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, talked about the Democrats leaving town without offering a vote to stop tax hikes with Greta Van Susteren On the Record:

Excerpts:

Rep. Pence: “It really is unconscionable, Greta. Congress is going to finish up in a couple hours. But earlier today they actually passed, Democrats passed, by one vote, an adjournment motion that's going to allow Members of Congress to head home to work on saving their jobs without doing a thing to protect the jobs of millions of Americans that are going to be facing higher taxes in January of next year. Republicans fought it. It’s amazing, 39 Democrats actually voted with Republicans against adjourning. And we have dozens of Democrats who have said they are willing to support extending all of the current tax relief, but that's not what they are doing. We are going to adjourn Congress so folks can go home to campaign with having done nothing to ensure that Americans won't face a tax increase in January.”

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Rep. Pence: “Well, I don't know how it is our fault. Republicans have made it very, very clear that we believe that the last thing you want to do in the worst economy in the last 25 years is raise taxes on anybody. We've been calling for a full extension of all the current tax relief for every American. But look, the American people aren't very interested in the blame game and the finger-pointing between the House, the Senate Republicans and Democrats. What they would like to see is the bipartisan majority just down the hallway that wants to extend all the tax cuts to get an up or down vote. But when the gavel falls tonight, Members of Congress are going to adjourn the Congress to go home so they can work to save their jobs with not having lifted a finger to protect the jobs of millions of Americans from taxes and a tax increase in January.”

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Rep. Pence: “I saw your show last night, that's where I learned about the New York Times editorial. And I don’t agree with the New York Times. I believe we should extend all the current tax relief. Make sure no American, no small business sees a tax hike in January of next year. But you have to give them credit for telling the Democrats, “Hey step up, man-up, take a vote.” If you think a tax increase in January is the way to go, then take the vote. What we've done here is seen the Democrat majority literally just punt. And they are putting politics ahead of prosperity. I think the American people are going to see through it. I think a lot of these members of Congress are going to get off the plane tomorrow and I think they are going to get an earful from their constituents. They are going to say, ‘What are you doing here when you have done nothing to prevent a tax increase in January from taking effect?’”