Rep. Hank Johnson Talks About Fiscal Cliff Vote
Local representative issues statement on passage of the bill.
Democrat Hank Johnson, whose Fourth Congressional District includes parts of Tucker, released the following statement Tuesday evening after voting on H.R. 8 – the American Taxpayer Relief Act – to avoid the fiscal cliff. The House voted 257 to 167 to pass the legislation:
“I voted to pass the American Taxpayer Relief Act because avoiding the fiscal cliff removes a massive barrier to continued growth of the American economy. The bill protects the middle class – providing permanent tax relief, while restoring equity in the tax code by requiring that the wealthy pay their fair share.
The bill extends unemployment benefits for two million Americans. It extends the earned income tax credit, the child tax credit and the college tax credit for five years, while including a one-year patch on Medicare reimbursements to doctors along with a permanent fix for the Alternative Minimum Tax. The bill also protects families from a spike in milk prices by extending the pertinent provisions of the Farm Bill for nine months.
The American people have been yearning to see an end to congressional gridlock, and I think Congress has taken a step in that direction.”
From a press release by Rep. Johnson's office.
Should this bill have passed? Tell us in the comments below-
John Powell
9:35 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Just a tip of the proverbial island?
Phil
9:57 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
If Dekalb was an island, it would have capsized by now.
How we get a Representative with the intellect of a Hank Johnson is beyond me. Unless the electorate who voted him in think that island can capsize.
John Powell
10:29 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Phil, the island I reference is the regressive kind rather than Guam. Hank is our duly elected representative and deserves our prayers not our disdain, even if we disagree with him. The national economy is in grave danger of capsizing and Hank appears to be pushing down on the wrong end. We need to cut funding not spending. We need jobs not taxation.
Phil
8:22 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
JP, I PRAY that voters can recognize a candidate's inability to grasp basic common sense principles. Even if I did agree with Mr. Johson's political stands, I would still criticize him.
It was painful to see the military brass trying to not laugh when they asked that stupid question. And Johnson is a Congressman! Unbelievable...and yet...really not so unbelievable.
Sad--so sad.
John
7:26 am on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Here's the test we need to start applying to Federal Government spending: The Federal Government should do only those things that only the Federal Government can do. Why is the government involved in anything that private industry can do better and cheaper? Amtrak loses millions every year; we have mail delivery 6 days a week with literally 90% of the mail being garbage, and don't get me started on Social Security. And when are we going to figure out that the longer we extend unemployment, the longer people are going to stay out of work?
benny matthews
6:02 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
Benny
In all do respect to Rep.Hank Johnson...does he not know our spending is out of control compared to our income? Thank goodness Tom Price is in congress and is representative of Tucker Ga.
Bob Peppel
2:27 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
What is Hank Johnson going to do when they find out that the "rich people" don't have enough money to cover the spending?