Bachmann, Kline Say “Tough Luck” to Middle-Class Families, Homeowners
11/10/2007
In Just Two Days, Bachmann and Kline Vote Against Tax Relief for Middle-Class Families and Making Insurance in Disaster-Prone Areas More AffordableSt. Paul, MN (November 9, 2007) With votes in just the past two days against the Temporary Tax Relief Act and the Homeowners’ Defense Act, the Minnesota DFL Party said today that Representatives Michele Bachmann and John Kline Bachmann’s and Kline’s votes show just how out of touch they are with middle-class Minnesotans.
“Representatives Bachmann’s and Kline’s votes against tax relief for 23 million middle-class families and against making insurance more affordable for people who live in disaster-prone areas amount to saying ‘tough luck’ to middle-class families,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “Michele Bachmann and John Kline have shown once again just how out of touch they are with the concerns of middle-class families and how far they will go to put corporate special interests ahead of Minnesotans.”
Bachmann and Kline: “Tough Luck,” Middle-Class Families and Homeowners:
Bachmann, Kline Voted Against Temporary Tax Relief Act. Republican Representatives John Kline and Michelle Bachmann voted against the Temporary Tax Relief Act. Retiring Representative Jim Ramstad also voted against the bill. [Vote #1081, 11/9/07]
Legislation Cuts Taxes for 20 Million Americans. The Temporary Tax Relief Act (HR 3996) cuts taxes for an estimated 20 million middle-class Americans by providing relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The $73.8 billion measure will “stave off the growth of the alternative minimum tax and offer new tax breaks for middle-income homeowners and poor parents, financed by tax increases that would land primarily on Wall Street titans.” [Reuters, 11/9/07; Washington Post, 11/9/07]
Temporary Tax Relief Act Is Fully Paid for, Makes Tax Code Fairer. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the legislation is fully offset and would not increase the deficit, would enhance the equity and efficiency of the tax code, and includes an important fix to the Child Tax Credit that would make it available to millions more low-income families. [CBPP, 11/7/07]
Bachmann, Kline Vote Against Homeowners’ Defense Act. Republican Representatives John Kline and Michele Bachmann voted against the bill, as did retiring Representative Jim Ramstad. DFL Representatives Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, Collin Peterson and Tim Walz voted for the bill. DFL Representative James Oberstar is recovering from recent surgery and did not vote. [Vote #1074, 11/8/07]
Homeowners’ Defense Act Is Bipartisan Solution. The Homeowners’ Defense Act arises from Florida representatives’ concerns that their constituents were being denied homeowners’ insurance or were seeing their premiums double and triple, even if they had never filed a natural-disaster-related claim before. Florida’s entire 25-member House delegation, which includes 14 Republicans, voted for the bill. [MSNBC.com, 11/8/07; Vote #1074, 11/8/07]
Bill Would Make It Easier and More Affordable for Homeowners in Disaster-Prone Areas to Get Insurance. The Homeowners' Defense Act (H.R. 3355) authorizes $120 million to create a National Catastrophe Consortium aimed at making homeowners’ insurance more readily available and affordable in areas at high risk of all types of natural disasters, including floods, tornadoes, blizzards, wildfires and ice storms. The Consortium would provide backup coverage to insurance companies that issue homeowners’ insurance in these areas by giving states the option to participate in a program to make catastrophic and liquidity loans available to qualified reinsurance programs. States would not be required to participate. [CRS Summary, CBS Cost Estimate, H.R. 3355]