Wittman Statement On Fiscal Cliff Vote
Wittman Statement on American Taxpayer Relief Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives considered H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act:“I regretfully voted against the American Taxpayer Relief Act today because it unfortunately does what Congress does best – kicks the can down the road. While I support low tax rates for Americans and have previously voted to ensure taxes do not go up on hardworking Americans, I could not vote for this bill because it does nothing to reform our long-term spending problems, which are the real drivers of our debt and deficits. In addition, this bill postpones sequestration, the disastrous defense cuts, for only two months. This creates even more uncertainty for our defense industry, which is so vital to the security of this nation. This bill is the epitome of what is wrong with Washington – waiting until the very last minute to pass a package negotiated by only a few. On this New Year’s Day, I am deeply disappointed that we are not moving forward with what is best for this Nation – a sustainable, long-term path that will place us on strong financial footing for our children and grandchildren.”
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
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11 Responses to “Wittman Statement On Fiscal Cliff Vote”
Rob: Have you EVER showed backbone, even the slightest vein of independence, since you were elected? How do you pretend to explain to your so-many under-$400,000-per-year constituents your support for their paying more in taxes? I keep waiting and hoping for you to show some independence in voting FOR the interests of the bulk of your constituents. It is extremely frustrating to see you once again fail this test.
Disappointed in your vote Congressman. Certainly, we need a long term deal, but we also needed something in the short term and a bi-partisan olive branch to get the negotiations going…your lack of support of this is troubling. I am a longitme GOP member, but seriously concerned that my allegiances are in the wrong camp.
Dennis well said. I agree that the most disappointing aspect is the all or nothing attitude that has pervaded the GOP for several years now. When the minority leader of the senate publicly states that the number one objective of the GOP is to ensure that President Obama is not re-elected you know the appetite for cooperation and negotiation is all but nonexistent. A sad commentary on our elected officials and a very sad commentary for our nation. We need term limits!
Was Connolly the only member of the Virginia delegation to vote for this thing?
Sadly yes Rep. Connelly was the only VA representative that had the gumption to Actually support the average working Virginian. Why can’t we have term limits!!
Connolly is a realist with backbone……………at least he stood up for the American people………..Whittman and his “hardworking Americans” theme pulled that one from a George Allen playbook……………maybe Cantor will pay him back…………
THIS is why I did not vote for you, sir, in November. You have no concerns about your constituents. Just opposing the current President.
This Senate bill was the best that a split government could come up, and certainly it pleased neither side. Which is what a split government usually has to accept: COMPROMISE.
And yet you followed that pompous ass Cantor in voting no to bringing some certainty to our still-fragile economy. WHY? Just one reason: Obama supported it.
WHERE were you and cantor when George W and the GOP gave seniors that Medicare Part D drug benefit, and THAT provision was not “paid for”?
WHERE were you when the chicken-hawks sent our sons and daughters off to fight a totally unnecessary war with Iraq? And WHERE were you when the two wars George W engaged the country in were subjected to accounting gimmickry and treated as “off-balance sheet” costs to lower his official annual deficit amounts?
And WHERE were you when dick cheney said “deficits don’t matter”?
Vote to reflect the best interests of the country, sir, once in a while. Eric cantor is no model to follow.
Nicholas, While your “say no to war unless a Democrat is President” logic is tiring and all-too familiar, I would note that Wittman may well not have been in Congress yet when many of the statements you quote were made.
Good job Rob! If you do not stand for something then you stand for nothing. You get voted in because of your consistency. I doubt the above commentors even read your statement.
Unfortunately we also have to be flushed down the tubes with these mental patients.
To the contrary Doc . . . I think it is you who have failed to give a critical reading of the representatives statement. He actually has the audacity to say that he didn’t vote for it because “. . . It does what Congress does best . . . Kicks the can down the road” he freely admits he is part of the problem! He goes further and states that ” . . . congress waits to the very last minute to pass a package . . .” Once again who is this Congress he refers to? He is absolutely part of the problem as are those who are hell bent on making our President appear to be weak and ineffectual no matter the cost to the nation! So Wittman’s solution is to do absolutely nothing and let all of his constituents suffer the consequences. He has no guts and does not represent the vast majority of his constituency!
Congressman Wittman did as most of his tea partying right wingers do…………….come up with another clever sound bite statement as to why he would not vote: he’s not gonna “kick the can down the road”……….let someone else do it and sit on the sidelines and sob and whine………….
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