Jay Rockefeller: “I cannot support the deal that has been reached because it is so clearly designed to benefit the elite members of our…”

“I cannot support the deal that has been reached because it is so clearly designed to benefit the elite members of our society at the expense of average taxpayers in West Virginia and across the Nation. Proposals that could have stimulated the economy and helped working families got short-changed to make room for enormous tax cuts for wealthy investors. I have little hope that this bill will stimulate economic growth; on the other hand, our national debt will be guaranteed to grow if we pass the bill. I would also like to comment briefly on the process that has brought us to this point. I am extremely disappointed that this deal was struck behind closed doors in an entirely partisan manner. Since it adds hundreds of billions of dollars to our national debt, it affects every American now and for the next generation. Whenever we are considering something of such tremendous importance, the process ought to be bipartisan and inclusive. This is not how Americans expect us to conduct business.”