Mark Udall: “as we debate this bill, we must remember it is only part of a brew based on the Republican leadership's budget recipe.…”

“as we debate this bill, we must remember it is only part of a brew based on the Republican leadership's budget recipe. Just before Thanksgiving, they twisted enough arms to put the first ingredients into the mixing bowl by passing a bill to cut more than $50 billion over five years from Medicaid, student loans, and many other programs of great importance to millions of Americans. Today, they want to continue by adding some good things--including extensions of well-targeted tax cuts like the research and development tax credit and small business expensing tainted by some unwholesome provisions, especially the premature extension of preferential rates for dividends and capital gains. The result, just in time for holiday parties, will be a full-bodied one-two punch. And while some may find it intoxicating, it will have a nasty aftertaste for many, will leave everyone with a bad budgetary headache--because it will actually increase the deficit--and will stick future generations with paying the tab. So, Mr. Speaker, count me out. I thought the original recipe was wrong. I did not vote for the first part of the mixture. And I will not vote for this bill. That doesn't mean I am opposed to tax cuts. As I said, there are good things in this bill, and I support them. That's why I voted for the substitute.…”