Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Statement on Another Vote by Senate Republicans to Raise Taxes on Middle-Class Families

Republicans plan to skip town tonight without voting for the payroll tax cut extension.

Failure to extend the payroll tax cut would mean a $1,000 tax hike for the average American family. Economists say it could also cost between 400,000 and 1 million American jobs.

And get this: according to Politico, in a closed-door meeting Speaker Boehner told the Republican House caucus that extending the payroll tax cut and helping Americans pay their bills is “chicken shi--.”

Following today’s vote in the U.S. Senate, where Republicans once again blocked a payroll tax cut for the middle class, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“This is now the second time in two weeks that Republicans in the Senate have voted to deny vital economic relief to millions of middle-class Americans.  By continuing to oppose the President’s proposal to extend and expand the payroll tax cut, Republicans are saying no to putting $1,500 back into the pockets of working families across the country.  As the President emphasized earlier this week, we are facing a critical make or break moment for middle-class Americans in this country – today’s vote was an opportunity to help them get ahead and move our nation forward, and it is astonishing that Republicans would vote to stand in their way.

“For the many Republicans in Congress who have pledged never to raise taxes on a single individual, today’s vote for a tax increase on millions of middle-class Americans is the height of hypocrisy.  The Republican Party’s priorities grow clearer by the day – they would rather give more tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires than lift a finger to help the middle class.  On the campaign trail, Mitt Romney belittled the middle class payroll tax cut as a ‘little Band-Aid’ – then he flip-flopped when he realized it was popular, like he does on every issue, and now says he supports it.  It’s time for Republicans to start working with the President to give middle-class Americans a fair chance and a fair shot at success.”

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