On Holding Middle Class Tax Cuts Hostage, An "Unfiltered" Response For Bilirakis
As Republicans in Congress continue to refuse to cut taxes for the middle class by using misleading language and reasons for doing so, the middle class will no longer take their inaction sitting down. They're actively fighting back and letting their representatives know how they feel.
In his district in Florida today, Congressman Bill Young's office will be the site of a "Day Of Action" by the Tampa Bay Bush Tax Cut Coalition Florida, where they will hold a press conference followed by a meeting with Young.
Meanwhile, in Rep. Gus Bilirakis' district, constituents are receiving the typical one sided emails from Bilirakis, a message which asks for "input" from recipients. The only problem with his message is that any "input" requested must be in the form of his already dictated multiple choice questions and answers. This is a typical response and "request" from Bilirakis that those in his district are used to getting.
In this message, he uses the same false talking points to mislead voters that all the Republicans are touting to scare and intimidate those who would benefit from the tax cuts, when he's actually holding them hostage to protect the wealthy.
These are the only questions Bilirakis offers to his constituents, and the only answers permitted in the lists are "Yes, No, and Unsure:"
Again, this is a typical message from Bilirakis, and emails sent to his office either get only a vague response, one informing the recipient that he's already doing quite enough, thank you very much, or no response at all. Bilirakis has a "safe seat" in the House, and therefore apparently doesn't feel the need to reach out further.
From the looks of the sign above which I spotted on the street in his district over the weekend, that may no longer be the case.
Make no mistake, Bilirakis and his fellow Republicans in the House could vote for those tax cuts for the middle class right now, but instead they're holding them hostage because they want to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires, and they know it. Bilirakis knows it. If he doesn't vote for the tax cuts, the middle class will see an average increase in their taxes of $2,000 a year.
What's going on is simply this: President Obama is asking Congress to move forward on a plan that would prevent 98 percent of American families from paying higher taxes next year. The Senate has passed that bill, and the President is ready to sign it -- but the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives won't even bring the bill to the floor for a vote. House Democrats have filed a petition that would force a vote if it attracts 218 signatures. If a bill has enough votes to pass, Congress should vote on it and pass it.
Problem is Bilirakis, Young, and all House Republicans are sitting idly by and refusing to sign, or do anything to help the middle class. In other words, Bilirakis is not acting in the best interests of the voters who put him in office. As that handmade sign illustrates, he's acting in the best interests of Grover Norquist who says no tax cuts ever, for any reason, and he continues to work for the wealthy and will protect them from having to pay their fair share of taxes just like the rest of us.
Voters in his district are fed up with Bilirakis' inaction, and aren't willing to be dictated to by him any longer. He may not care to hear what his constituents have to say, but that's too bad. They should continue to do so, and give him a call:
Representative Gus Bilirakis
(202) 225-5755
(Photo: Martha Jackovics)
