Yvette Clarke: “What has happened today would be comical if it weren't so damaging to our nation's middle-class. Mr. Speaker, the…”

“What has happened today would be comical if it weren't so damaging to our nation's middle-class. Mr. Speaker, the American People need to know the facts: The fact is, Mr. Speaker is that this body passed a tax cut bill that they knew would not make it through the other body The fact is, Mr. Speaker, that the other body, in about as bipartisan a manner as this 112th Congress has ever seen, voted overwhelmingly to pass a two month extension of the payroll tax cut so that taxes would not go up for millions of Americans on the 1st of January. The fact is, instead of passing this common-sense legislation which would have bought time for a comprehensive full year extension of the payroll tax cut to be negotiated, the GOP-led House would not allow a vote. Mr. Speaker, the Majority has instead decided to kill the payroll tax cut altogether and not buy Congress time for a comprehensive deal. Mr. Speaker, I hope that when it's time to let tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires to expire, the Republicans will show the same callous disregard they have shown our nations struggling middle- class.”