I was moved to contact my Congressman, Joe Sestak, via email today due to a rather defeatist set of quotes in my county newspaper in regard to the tax "deal." This diary doesn’t represent anything that most of haven’t communicated before, but I wanted to share it in the hope that any of you who read this can contact your representatives in the House or your Senators to make our voices heard.
Delco Times Article on Taxes
Congressman Sestak:
Before I delve into my comments on taxes, I’d like to thank you for your years of service to the people of the 7th district. I was proud to be represented by you over the past 4 years in Congress as it was my sincere pleasure to donate the small amount I could to your Herculean effort to win our state’s Senate seat. I cannot predict the future course of your career, but I would hope that you’ll be integral to putting PA-7 back into Democratic party hands in 2012. I’d also like to thank you for your vote in favor of the Dream Act. As a former high ranking Navy officer you were uniquely positioned to fully understand the merits of passing the Dream Act.
After reading your comments in today’s Daily Times, I would implore you re-examine your positions on the tax "deal" currently under consideration in Congress. The need to arrive at an ultimate resolution of our nation’s revenue needs is vital. I understand the spirit of needing to "get something done" on the issue of taxes, but I fully expect members of the Democratic party to vote down any legislation that pushes austerity on Americans who most need the help. The wealthy in this nation have been feasting on the wealth of 97% of their fellow citizens for the past 30 years. A restoration of pre-Bush II taxation levels on the wealthiest Americans would add vital revenue to essential national programs.
Senate Republicans and a few of their Democratic enablers seem hell bent on preserving low taxation of the wealthy based on very specious supply-side economic theories. If this misguided minority of Senators will not budge on protecting their wealthy supporters, the House needs to insist on a decoupling of tax bills. I would support a "deal" that made permanent the tax rates for Americans set by the most recent bill passed in the House while only granting a two year extension of the 35% tax rate for the rich. It is tantamount to our future as a nation that Republicans are forced to argue the merits of low taxation for the rich on its own merits to expose it for the folly that it is. I am sure most voters in PA-7 would agree. 2/3rds of Americans already agree that the richest 3% of Americans do not deserve maintenance of the 35% taxation rate.
On a final note, the House needs to fully reject the payroll tax holiday. The money given back to most Americans via that tax break would be best produced from some other source. I fully agree that the stimulus provided by the extra thousand dollars of take home pay I would receive would have a great effect on the economy. If that money is raised via a defunding of Social Security it would create a self fulfilling prophecy of the "need" to destroy one of our nation’s most vital social safety nets. Congress needs to lift the earnings cap on wages subject to the Social Security tax before any other conversation on Social Security takes place. Senator Simpson’s complete and total lack of understanding of average Americans was fully evident in the Catfood Commission’s recommendations on Social Security. Democrats and Republicans alike would be wise to heed the third rail of American politics. Please don’t allow your vote on any tax bill to enable future senior citizens to be doomed to a life of poverty.
I apologize for the length of this communication, but I thank you and your staff for your attention on this matter. Poor, working poor, working class, and middle class Americans are vitally dependant on your help and your vote. Please join with Mr. Welsh’s promise to protect us from the harm of this tax "deal!"