[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 199 (Friday, December 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2342-E2343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE ON H.R. 3630, MIDDLE CLASS TAX RELIEF AND 
                        JOB CREATION ACT OF 2011

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 20, 2011

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, first my Republican colleagues opposed 
extending the current payroll tax cut for the middle class. Then they 
decided they would support it after all--but they objected to asking 
millionaires help pay for it and insisted that a completely unrelated 
and controversial project called the Keystone XL pipeline be included 
in the final package.

[[Page E2343]]

  Now, by a lopsided vote of 89-10, the Senate has sent the House a 
short term measure negotiated by Democratic Leader Reid and Republican 
Leader McConnell to prevent taxes from going up on 160 million 
Americans next year, offset with a provision both parties can support--
with an accelerated decision on the Keystone XL pipeline due in sixty 
days.
  So what are the House Republicans doing? Trying to kill the 
bipartisan Senate bill. In fact, they won't even allow a straight up or 
down vote on it--because if they did, they know it would pass.
  Americans need look no further than this reckless year-end gambit by 
the extreme right wing of the Republican Party to understand why their 
government has ceased to function.
  Like President Obama and virtually every Democrat in this House, I 
would rather be voting on a year-long extension for the current payroll 
tax cut, unemployment insurance for those who remain out of work 
through no fault of their own, and reasonable compensation for 
physicians who participate in the Medicare program. Additionally, I 
would prefer a balanced approach to paying for these measures--and I 
oppose mandating a precipitous decision on the controversial Keystone 
XL pipeline.
  But in order to ensure 160 million Americans don't see a tax increase 
on January 1, and to give negotiators more time to reach final 
agreement on a fully paid-for year-long package, I am prepared to 
support the Senate's bipartisan short term extension.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate Democrats have approved this legislation. Senate 
Republicans have approved this legislation. And House Democrats are 
prepared to approve this legislation. If House Republicans block it, 
they will have to explain to the American people why rigid ideology was 
more important than helping create more jobs and boosting our fragile 
economy.

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