Klobuchar Joins Senators in Proposing Middle Class Tax Cut Bill

02/15/2007

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today joined five of her Senate colleagues in introducing a bill that will provide tax relief for millions of American middle-class families. The Middle Class Opportunity Act increases tax credits for child and dependent care, makes it easier for families to pay for higher education, protects middle-class families from unfair tax increases, and helps families provide for aging parents.

“Our proposal offers real solutions that will make a real difference in the pocketbooks and wallets of working families,” said Klobuchar. “It puts the interests of the middle-class front and center, and it does so in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Klobuchar cited her conversations with working families all over Minnesota who are being squeezed by rising costs of child care, college tuition, and increasingly, caring for an elderly parent. As part of her commitment to fiscal responsibility, she proposes paying for the $80 billion dollar package of middle-class tax relief by rolling back tax breaks and giveaways for the wealthiest.

“Fiscal responsibility is not just about dollars and cents,” said Klobuchar. “It’s also about having the right priorities. I think there are notable parts of the federal budget where we can see the wrong priorities at work and where we can find the money to pay for middle-class relief.”

Senator Klobuchar joined Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), John Tester (D-MT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in releasing the Middle Class Opportunity Act of 2007.