Johnny Isakson, United States Senator from Georgia


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, August 5, 2010 Isakson Votes to Protect American Workers, Families, Small Businesses from Tax Hikes Voices Disappointment Over Defeat of Motions to Make Tax Cuts Permanent WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today voted to prevent tax increases on American workers, families and small businesses that are scheduled to take place on Jan. 1, 2011. Isakson has advocated repeatedly that the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 should be made permanent. "In 2001, Congress passed the largest tax relief package in a generation and then expanded those tax cuts in 2003. This historic tax relief has helped American workers, families and businesses for nearly 10 years," Isakson said. "However, these tax cuts are set to expire on Dec. 31, and that is creating widespread uncertainty. There's nothing that stifles economic growth more than uncertainty about a tax bill coming from Washington. I am disappointed the Senate defeated these motions because we must do everything we can to create a pro-growth economic environment where families and small businesses can thrive." During a debate on legislation to provide a teacher bailout and additional Medicaid funding, Isakson voted for a motion to suspend the rules and send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to permanently extend the current individual marginal income tax rates and to offset the cost with spending cuts. The Senate defeated the motion by a vote of 42-58. If the current tax rates are allowed to expire, marginal tax brackets will rise significantly on individuals, families and small business to their pre-2001 levels. Isakson also voted for another motion to suspend the rules and send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to permanently extend all of the current individual income tax rates for small business owners and to offset the cost with spending cuts. The Senate defeated this motion by a vote of 42-58. The majority of small businesses files taxes as individuals and would be directly impacted by increases in the individual income tax rates. Both procedural motions required 67 votes to pass. ###
E-mail: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm Washington: United States Senate, 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Tel: (202) 224-3643 Fax: (202) 228-0724 Atlanta: One Overton Park, 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339 Tel: (770) 661-0999 Fax: (770) 661-0768

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 5, 2010

Isakson Votes to Protect American Workers, Families, Small Businesses from Tax Hikes
Voices Disappointment Over Defeat of Motions to Make Tax Cuts Permanent

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today voted to prevent tax increases on American workers, families and small businesses that are scheduled to take place on Jan. 1, 2011. Isakson has advocated repeatedly that the tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 should be made permanent.

"In 2001, Congress passed the largest tax relief package in a generation and then expanded those tax cuts in 2003. This historic tax relief has helped American workers, families and businesses for nearly 10 years," Isakson said. "However, these tax cuts are set to expire on Dec. 31, and that is creating widespread uncertainty. There's nothing that stifles economic growth more than uncertainty about a tax bill coming from Washington. I am disappointed the Senate defeated these motions because we must do everything we can to create a pro-growth economic environment where families and small businesses can thrive."

During a debate on legislation to provide a teacher bailout and additional Medicaid funding, Isakson voted for a motion to suspend the rules and send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to permanently extend the current individual marginal income tax rates and to offset the cost with spending cuts. The Senate defeated the motion by a vote of 42-58. If the current tax rates are allowed to expire, marginal tax brackets will rise significantly on individuals, families and small business to their pre-2001 levels.

Isakson also voted for another motion to suspend the rules and send the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to permanently extend all of the current individual income tax rates for small business owners and to offset the cost with spending cuts. The Senate defeated this motion by a vote of 42-58. The majority of small businesses files taxes as individuals and would be directly impacted by increases in the individual income tax rates.

Both procedural motions required 67 votes to pass.

###

E-mail: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Washington: United States Senate, 120 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-3643 Fax: (202) 228-0724
Atlanta: One Overton Park, 3625 Cumberland Blvd, Suite 970, Atlanta, GA 30339
Tel: (770) 661-0999 Fax: (770) 661-0768