Jim Baird: “since I first came to Congress, I made it a priority to restore sales tax deductibility for my constituents in…”

“since I first came to Congress, I made it a priority to restore sales tax deductibility for my constituents in Washington State. Last year, working with a bipartisan coalition lead by Mr. Kevin Brady and myself, we did successfully do that. This deduction saved Washington State taxpayers over $500 million last year alone. Unfortunately, the sales tax deduction will expire at the end of this year, and we must extend that deduction. Accordingly, I applaud both the Democrats and the Republicans for including in their packages a 1- year extension. Frankly, I would like to have made it a permanent extension. Nevertheless, I am concerned at a time of war in the aftermath of this country's most devastating natural disaster how we can in good conscience support a tax bill that will add at least $20 billion to our national debt to provide a tax break that goes predominantly to the wealthy, and by that I mean the capital gains and dividend tax cut. Earlier, the distinguished chairman of the Rules Committee said the American people get it. I have to say, I just had five town halls in my district; the American people do get it. They get that this bill, the Republican majority bill, is passing on enormous deficits to our children. Debt to our children, that is what we are doing. The Democratic substitute, by comparison, is revenue neutral.…”