GSP - With No Help From Rep. Guinta , Rep. Bass and Congress Approves Bipartisan ‘Fiscal Cliff ’ Avoidance Bill, Averts Middle Class Tax Hike

With No Help From Congressman Frank Guinta, Rep. Charlie Bass and Majority of U.S. House Approve Senate’s Bipartisan ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Avoidance Bill, Averts Middle Class Tax Hike
 

Just How Reckless and Irresponsible Is Congressman Guinta? He Would Rather See Taxes Go Up on New Hampshire’s Middle Class Families by $2,200 and the Economy Suffer Before Seeing a Millionaire Pay a Dime More in Taxes

(Concord) The long national nightmare is over as the U.S. House approved by a 257-167 margin the strongly bipartisan Senate ‘fiscal cliff’ avoidance bill that will effectively roll back the $2,200 middle class tax hike that was triggered automatically on midnight January 1st.  The bill now headed to the President’s desk -- despite Congressman Guinta’s misguided opposition -- will permanently extend tax relief for all but the richest individuals making more than $400,000 a year and families making more than $450,000. These wealthy Americans will see their tax rates go from 35% back to Clinton-era level of 39.6 percent when the nation saw one of its greatest periods of economic prosperity and job creation, a move not only supported by the American people but by even most millionaires.  Additionally, the ‘fiscal cliff’ avoidance bill also includes other important measures to protect families and spur economic growth, including extending jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed (which expired Friday) through the end of 2013.

Sue Roman, a volunteer with the Action, a joint project of Granite State Progress and New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action: “Last night’s vote demonstrates that Frank Guinta clearly didn’t get the message voters sent in November when they voted him out of office. New Hampshire citizens voted to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; ask the nation’s wealthiest taxpayers to pay a little more; and to protect families without work struggling during this recovery. To his credit, Congressman Bass proved that the middle-class matters and that he heard the voices of voters. Too bad Frank Guinta is still too wed to his right-wing views to vote the conscience of the state.”

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action NH is a joint project of NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress, and part of a national grassroots movement that demanded Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—the final deal ended the tax break for those making more than $400,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.

GSP - Dozens of activists join The Action to urge lame ducks Bass, Guinta to get back to work

Fighting the cold, activists from around the state demonstrated outside Bass's Concord office and Guinta's Manchester office demanding action on the fiscal cliff

Concord – Activists working with The Action, a joint project of Granite State Progress and the New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action, demonstrated outside the Concord office of lame duck Rep. Charlie Bass and the Manchester office of lame duck Rep. Frank Guinta today to demand that the House get back to work to stop the country from going over the fiscal cliff and protect the middle class by maintaining the current tax rates for 98% of Americans and 97% of small businesses.

"The House is returning to Washington in a couple of days and we’re asking Congressman Frank Guinta to do the right thing and vote for an extension of the middle-class cuts. These tax cuts for 98% of Americans and 97% of small business owners will allow New Hampshire taxpayers to keep $2000 that they can spend in our local economy and speed our recovery," The Action press secretary Keith McCrea said outside Guinta's office on Lowell St. in downtown Manchester. "After Speaker Boehner’s failure to secure the votes for his own caucus for his ‘Plan B,’ time is running short. Please, Congressman Guinta, vote to extend the middle-class tax cuts and urge your leader, Speaker John Boehner, to bring it to a vote.

The House, including lame ducks Bass and Guinta,  spent last week on vacation while the Senate and Pres. Obama have returned to DC to try to find a solution to the on-going uncertainty created by the so-called 'fiscal cliff.' After the failure of Speaker Boehner's 'Plan B,' the GOP leadership of the House has failed to offer any solutions while the Senate passed a bill over the summer to protect the middle-class. Speaker Boehner has refused to bring this bill to a vote. 

The Action has demonstrated from Pittsburg, at a town hall for Sen. Kelly Ayotte, to Nashua where they delivered over 400 petition signatures to Congressman Charlie Bass’s office urging him to vote for middle-class tax relief. We’ve been joined by small business owners from florists to jewelers, by volunteers and students, and by elected leaders from across the state. Hundreds have joined the call and their actions have been covered by media outlets including WBIN tv, NHPR, the Concord Monitor, the Nashua Telegraph, NH Patch, and local radio stations throughout the state.

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action NH is a joint project of NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress, and part of a national grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.

GSP - Local Advocates Respond to House Speaker Boehner Pulling Fatally Flawed “Plan B” Tax Bill Off The Table

Call on Congressman Bass to Stand by His Earlier Declaration “It is Not a Battle We Are Likely to Win” 

House Republicans Had Their Chance, Now It’s Time for ‘Plan A’: Congressman Bass Implored to Call on Boehner to Allow a Vote on Senate-Passed Middle Class Tax Relief Bill That the President is Ready to Sign to Avoid Tax Hike on 98% of Americans & 97% of Small Businesses at Year’s End

Concord, NH – Despite time running out for Congress to avert an automatic tax hike on all Americans on January 1, Republican House Speaker John Boehner chose to waste more time playing politics, putting forward a bill to protect tax breaks for millionaires at the expense of the middle class that was so fatally flawed that he could not even rally enough support from fellow House Republicans.  As a result, late Thursday night, Republican Boehner reportedly pulled the so-called “Plan B” bill off the table, a bill that stood no chance of passage in the Senate as it seeks to recklessly perpetuate tax cuts for the wealthiest few – and in fact would give millionaires an average $50,000 tax break - while at the same time raising taxes by an average of $1,000 on 25 million working families with children and students.

You Had Your Chance, Mr. Speaker, and Now It’s Time for ‘Plan A’: NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress’ joint campaign “The Action” are calling on Congressman Charlie Bass to be a strong independent voice for New Hampshire’s families and demand that Speaker Boehner immediately hold a vote on a responsible alternative bill that already passed in the U.S. Senate and the President is ready to sign that would immediately extend the Bush tax cuts only on incomes under $250,000 for a couple and $200,000 for an individual – a bill that would generate $400 billion more in high-income revenue to address our long-term budget challenges and for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.

Just last month Representative Bass told the New York Times:  “No question, if we go over the fiscal cliff and Congress allowed it to happen because we would not let taxes go up on the top 2 percent, that is not a battle we are likely to win."

Dwight Hayes of Concord, a local volunteer for The Action campaign and a former Methodist minister, issued this statement:

“With a $2,200 tax hike set to hit middle class families on January 1^st, all Speaker Boehner has accomplished this week was further fan the flames of economic uncertainty.   But one thing is absolutely certain: he and his party’s insistence on protecting tax breaks for millionaires at all costs is hugely unpopular and the American people will hold the GOP responsible if taxes to go up on the middle class next year.  All eyes are on Congressman Bass in New Hampshire because he will be every bit to blame if he goes on vacation while the economy drives off the fiscal cliff.  The legacy of Congressman Bass’s service in Congress will be measured by his stand now. Will he stand with Speaker Boehner or with middle class families that will have $2,200 less to spend on groceries or on filling a prescription, to pay the rent or tuition?

“Fortunately for Congressman Bass, there is still a little time to avoid this economic hardship and political fallout.  Forget ‘Plan B’.  ‘Plan A’ has been sitting on the table for months, a middle class tax relief bill that the Senate already passed and the President is ready to sign right away.  The people of New Hampshire need Congressman Bass to step up, be an independent voice, and pressure Speaker Boehner to get behind the Senate bill to immediately extend tax relief to 98% of the American people and 97% of small businesses.

“Congressman Bass, do the right thing: don’t ring in the New Year by dropping the ball on middle class tax relief. End your time in Congress with a vote standing up for New Hampshire’s middle class.”

SEE: New York Times, Dec. 21: ‘G.O.P. Leaders in House Pull Tax Bill, Citing Lack of Votes’

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ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action NH is a joint project of NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress, and part of a national grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.

GSP - Citizens from across the stat e to call Sen. Ayotte’s office urging her to reject Boehner’s so-called “Plan B”

Activists working with The Action will gather in Concord to call

Concord – Activists working with the The Action, a joint project of Granite State Progress and the New Hampshire Citizens’ Alliance for Action, will gather in Concord to call citizens across the state urging them to call Senator Kelly Ayotte’s office in Washington and ask her to the so-called “Plan B” bill put forward by Republican House leadership. This measure, proposed by Speaker Boehner, would recklessly perpetuate tax cuts for the wealthiest few – and in fact would give millionaires an average $50,000 tax break - while at the same time raising taxes by an average of $1,000 on 25 million working families with children and students. 

"I’m particpaing in the phone bank because I think it’s important for New Hampshire citizens to call Sen. Ayotte and ask her to reject Speaker Boehner’s middle-class tax hike, the so-called “Plan B,” Dwight Hayes, a local activist and former Methodist minister said today.

Who:                Activists with The Action, a joint project of NH Citizens’ Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress

What:              Phone banking citizens across New Hampshire

When:             5pm to 8pm

Where:            4 Park St., Concord

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action NH is a joint project of NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress, and part of a national grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.

GSP - GOP Constituent Schools Sen. Kelly Ayotte on Actual Impact of Tax Breaks for Wealthiest 2%

Long-Time Republican Constituent Schools Sen. Kelly Ayotte on Actual Impact of Tax Breaks for Wealthiest 2% during Pittsburg Town Hall

During Town Hall, U.S. Senator corrected by GOP tax accountant for misleading statements about impact of the Bush tax cuts for wealthiest 2%

Pittsburg, NH – In a Friday town hall meeting in Pittsburg, Senator Kelly Ayotte was corrected by a Republican constituent when she declared she wouldn’t end tax breaks for the wealthiest 2% because it will impact “small businesses.”

“There are a lot of people in here who in small business but I don’t think any of us in small businesses have a bottom line where we’re making over $250,000,” Wendall Woodard said. “It really won’t negatively affect these small businesses.”

Woodard, a tax accountant knew what he was talking about: according to several studies, the policy change would end the Bush-era tax cuts for businesses making over $250,000 a year and wouldn’t affect 97% of small businesses.

 “The fact is that only between two and three percent of small businesses would see any increase at all and those businesses are making a profit of over $250,000 annually, “ said Taylor Coots, Lead Organizer for The Action NH/NHCA. “Sen. Ayotte seems eager to protect the wealthiest taxpayers – small business owners or not – at the expense of needed investments in things like education and infrastructure.”

Ayotte struggled to recover from the exchange; former state senator John Gallus ultimately tried to cover for Ayotte’s misstep.

See the extended exchange:  http://youtu.be/jNI5L0vCYvw - For copies of the film in other formats, contact Keith McCrea at keith@granitestateprogress.org or (603) 225-2471. 

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* Pittsburg, and its robust population of 869 residents, is New Hampshire’s northern most community. The town borders Canada and is 70 miles from the nearest media outlet – which is in Vermont. Pictures of actual border patrol members in uniform at the town hall are available by request.

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action NH is a joint project of NH Citizens Alliance for Action and Granite State Progress, and part of a national grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.