[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18394]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     EXTENDING THE PAYROLL TAX CUT

  Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I thank you for the opportunity to spend a 
few minutes here on the Senate floor. And I want to thank the previous 
speaker, Senator Moran from Kansas, for his timely comments, 
specifically regarding housing, the ability for small institutions, 
community banks to be able to produce the capital they need to help 
these small businesses and these homeowners, but, specifically, for the 
ability to create jobs. It dovetails into what I want to talk about 
today; that is, solutions, solutions for the American people.
  This week, Congress has an opportunity to come together to help hard-
working Americans, those taxpayers, and extend the payroll tax cut 
holiday. No State needs Congress to put aside political bickering more 
than the great State of Nevada.
  Right now, as a percentage, more Nevadans are looking for jobs than 
in any other State. Right now, more Nevadans are having difficulty 
holding on to their homes than in any other State. And right now, more 
Nevadans are filing for bankruptcy than in any other State.
  There was a report released yesterday that named Nevada the toughest 
place in the country to find a job.
  Our No. 1 priority in this Congress should be to turn this economy 
around and get people working again. Yet here I am standing on the U.S. 
Senate floor today trying to convince the majority not to raise taxes 
on small businesses.
  I am proud of my State. I am confident that, with the right policies 
in place, Nevadans can find job opportunities and overcome these 
difficult times. But in order for that to happen, Congress must put 
partisanship aside and come together to pass meaningful legislation 
that benefits Americans who need help in this tough economy and expand 
opportunities for employers looking to hire.
  Extending the payroll tax cut will allow Americans to hold on to 
wages they worked hard to earn. Under my plan, hard-working American 
taxpayers will not see a tax increase. Under my plan, we will prevent a 
tax increase on those already receiving the payroll tax credit. And 
under my plan, employers can continue to invest in their businesses, so 
they can grow, expand, and hire more workers without the fear of a tax 
increase.
  Americans need jobs desperately. Congress should be focused on 
policies that create jobs and drive long-term economic growth. The 
legislation I have proposed allows Congress to responsibly extend the 
payroll tax cut and treat taxpayers' dollars appropriately.
  There is no question Congress should extend the payroll tax cut. 
Republicans, Democrats, Independents, everyone agrees on that. But we 
should not do it by turning around and raising taxes on employers 
everywhere.
  Nevadans are looking for jobs. Increasing taxes on small businesses 
in Nevada is bad economic policy, and taking away the capital they 
could use to invest makes little sense.
  Rather than finding a solution for hard-working Americans, the 
majority has chosen to go down a path that is engineered purposely to 
fail. They know there is little chance a tax increase on hard-working 
American taxpayers and their businesses will pass the Senate, and they 
know there is no chance their tax increase will pass in the House. So 
instead of success and reaching bipartisan agreement, the majority has 
chosen to focus on failure and scoring political points.
  Honestly, these are the games the American people are tired of: the 
``my way or the highway'' mentality, proposals that have no chance for 
success, bickering at the expense of our economy.
  We have a divided Congress. That means to ensure 160 million 
Americans receive an extension of this tax cut, we need to move beyond 
petty politics of this majority.
  As a Senator from the State that is leading the Nation in 
unemployment, I am particularly disturbed by this determination to play 
the political game rather than focus on solutions that work for all 
Americans.
  With a little common sense, we can pay for the payroll tax cut 
without raising taxes on job creators, we can reduce government 
spending where it is no longer needed, and require the richest 
Americans to pay higher premiums for Medicare. This will allow us to 
strengthen and preserve Medicare for those Americans who rely on the 
program the most. And since my colleagues on the other side of the 
aisle frequently talk about how the richest Americans should be doing 
more, I believe this is an approach that both Democrats and Republicans 
can support.
  By voting for this alternative plan, Congress can put political 
gamesmanship aside and support a workable solution for all Americans. 
The bipartisan veterans jobs bill, along with the 3-percent withholding 
bill Congress passed earlier this month, is proof that when Congress 
has the will to work together, we can find a pathway forward.
  My proposal provides Congress with another opportunity to break the 
political gridlock here in Washington, DC, and vote for a solution that 
can pass Congress and be signed into law. I am hopeful Congress can 
work together to extend the payroll tax cut and preserve opportunities 
for job growth. It is past time Congress put aside politics and focused 
on policies that work for Nevadans and all Americans already struggling 
in this difficult economic environment.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.

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