Capito Calls for Federal Budget Without Tax Hikes

Op-Ed

Capito Calls for Federal Budget Without Tax Hikes

Letter from Shelley

Friends and Colleagues,

Congress was in high-gear last week, with heated discussion about taxes, the economy and terrorist surveillance.

Budget Should Not Hike Taxes

As we face higher gas prices and a sluggish economy, the last thing West Virginians need is an increase in taxes. Yet, that is precisely what House Leadership proposed in Congress this week.

I fervently opposed their budget proposal, which would raise taxes by more than $683 billion over the next 5 years - or an additional $2,500 per year for the average Mountain State family. Small businesses would also see a steep tax hike under their plan, with nearly 27 million small business owners throughout the country paying an average of $4,000 of additional taxes each year.

This is the wrong solution at a time when many families are already struggling. We passed an economic stimulus package to promote job-growth and put money back in the hands of the American people, and we must not reverse that progress with a flawed budget.

Bill Would Extend Loan Benefits to Veterans

When Congress passed economic stimulus earlier this year, the legislation included a proposal to help struggling homeowners refinance mortgages through federally-backed mortgage programs. Under the original bill, however, the Veteran's Administration home loan program was not slated for similar expansion.

To address this oversight, I introduced legislation to amend the Economic Stimulus Act to ensure that loan limits for the VA home loan program would expand to mirror other federal programs. I'm hopeful that this proposal can pass swiftly through Congress.

Leadership Continues to Stonewall on Terrorist Surveillance Bill

Once again, the House has adjourned without passing legislation to modernize our terrorist surveillance laws.

As communications technology advances, our intelligence officials must have a legal framework that enables them to adapt in turn. While the vast majority in Congress supports legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, Speaker Pelosi continues to stonewall and refuses to bring the Senate bill to a vote in the House.

Due to her stonewalling, the Protect America Act expired last month and left our intelligence community in legal limbo. I believe that we must pass the Senate's bipartisan surveillance bill to restore clarity for our intelligence community and ensure that they have the tools to do their job.

Sincerely,

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Member of Congress

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