Once Again Baldwin Stands Up For Bigger Government & More Spending, Rather Than Standing Behind Wisconsin Business Owners
Continuing a long pattern of supporting bigger government, higher taxes and more spending, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin today voted against efforts to spur job creation by giving small businesses a 20 percent tax cut, despite the fact that families in Wisconsin continue to struggle with soaring gas prices and a lagging economy.
Remarkably, Baldwin’s opposition to small business tax relief comes just three short months after she went on a much trumpeted “January Jobs Tour” when she said, “the people of Wisconsin want a U.S. senator who will fight for the middle class, make job creation a priority and expand economic opportunities for working families.”
“Rather than supporting the small businesses of Wisconsin, Tammy Baldwin stayed true to her liberal form by voting against legislation to spur economic growth in the Badger State,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Lance Trover said today. “Congresswoman Baldwin’s vote today makes clear that she would rather protect the Democrats’ record-breaking spending and borrowing spree in Washington even at the cost of Wisconsin jobs and economic recovery.”
According to a recent analysis, the “Small Business Tax Cut Act of 2012” would benefit over 109,000 small businesses in Wisconsin, of which roughly 13,000 are owned by women.
Yet, Baldwin and fellow liberal Democrats in Washington refuse to provide tax relief to small businesses, even though spending under their watch is at all-time highs:
“The U.S. government spent more in March than it had in any prior month on record. The government spent $369.37 billion last month, about $30 billion more than it spent in March 2011. For March alone, the U.S. recorded a budget deficit of $198.16 billion, about $10 billion more than the same month last year, according to the U.S. Treasury Department’s latest budget figures released Wednesday. It was the highest March deficit ever.” (Eric Morath, “March 2012 Outlays Highest Monthly Spending Ever – US Treasury,” Dow Jones Newswires, 4/11/12)
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ….
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin’s Long History Of Opposing Bipartisan, Pro-Jobs Legislation
1) The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R 872) - Reduces overlapping and unnecessary regulation on pesticides; thereby reducing costs to both farmers and small business owners.
• Introduced by Rep. Bob Gibbs (OH) on March 2, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 292-130 on March 31, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
2) The Energy Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 910) - Prohibits the federal government from regulating greenhouse gas emissions; thereby by preventing a needless increase in energy prices for American households and businesses.
• Introduced by Rep. Fred Upton (MI) on March 3, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 255-172 on April 7, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
3) A Resolution of Disapproval Regarding FCC’s Regulation (H.J. Res. 37) - Prevents the federal government from regulating the Internet and broadband providers
• Introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (OR) on February 16, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 240 to 179 on April 8, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
4) Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R 1230) – Helps to reduce energy prices and promote job creation by expediting offshore oil and natural gas exploration in the Gulf of Mexico and the Virginia coast.
• Introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA) on March 29, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 266-149 on May 5, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
5) Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act (H.R. 1229) – Promotes job creation and reduces energy prices by reinstating oil drilling permits in the Gulf Coast.
• Introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA) on March 29, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 263-163 on May 11, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
6) Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R 1231) – Promotes lower energy costs and job creation by allowing drilling in at least 50 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf areas known to contain the most oil and gas.
• Introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA) on March 29, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 243-179 on May 12, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
7) The Jobs and Energy Permitting Act (H.R 2021) – Promotes job growth and reduces energy costs by expediting the process of obtaining an offshore drilling permit.
• Introduced by Rep. Cory Gardner (CO) on May 26, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 255-166 on June 22, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
8) The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act (H.R 2018) - Prevents the federal government from interfering with a state’s water quality program once that state has already met existing federal standards; thereby eliminating needless red tape and tinkering by bureaucrats.
• Introduced by Rep. John Mica (FL) on May 26, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 239 to 184 on July 13, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
9) The Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011 (H.R. 1315) -
Improves consumer protection and provides greater economic stability by allowing the Financial Stability Oversight Council to vote to set aside any harmful federal regulation.
• Introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy (WI) on April 1, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 241-173 on July 21, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
10) The North American-Made Energy Security Act (H.R. 1938) – Promotes job creation and energy security by ending the needless delay of the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline.
• Introduced by Rep. Terry Lee (NE) on May 23, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 279-147 on July 26, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
11) The Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act (H.R. 2587) - Seeks to guarantee private companies the flexibility to develop their businesses in the state that offers the best opportunities for growth, job creation and stability.
• Introduced by Rep. Tim Scott (SC) on July 19, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 238-186 on September 15, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
12) The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts (TRAIN) Act (H.R. 2401) - Establishes an interagency committee to evaluate the economic impacts of EPA regulations and delay the final dates for both the maximum achievable control technology (Utility MACT) standards and the cross-state air pollution rule (CSAPR) until the full impact has been studied. Both regulations would cost consumers and businesses $184 billion from 2011-2030 and would skyrocket electrical prices.
• Introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (OK) on June 24, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 249-169 on September 23, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
13) The EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250) – Alleviates the excessive regulatory burden placed on employers by the EPA’s Boiler MACT rules, potentially costing companies $14 billion and 224,000 American jobs, and replacing them with sensible, achievable rules that do not destroy jobs.
• Introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA) on June 21, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 275-142 on October 13, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
14) REGULATORY ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2011 (H.R. 3010) – Bipartisan legislation that “requires agencies to assess the costs and benefits” of new regulations on small businesses.
Passed the House by a vote of 253-167 – Baldwin Voted Nay
15) REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2011 (H.R. 527) – Closes loopholes used by federal agencies that allow them to impose costly, job-crushing regulations.
Passed the House by a vote of 263-159 – Baldwin Voted Nay
16) WORKFORCE DEMOCRACY & FAIRNESS ACT (H.R. 3094) – Prevents the Obama administration’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from imposing sweeping new regulations that threaten American jobs.
Passed the House by a vote of 235-188 – Baldwin Did Not Vote
17) Regulatory Flexibility Act (H.R. 527) – To require federal agencies to analyze fully the impact a new regulation would have on small businesses, before the agency adopts the regulation.
Passed by a vote of 263-159 on December 1, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
18) Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011 (H.R. 10) – Would increase accountability for and transparency in the federal regulatory process. According to the legislation, Section 1 of article I of the United States Constitution grants all legislative powers to Congress. Over time, Congress has excessively delegated its constitutional charge while failing to conduct appropriate oversight and retain accountability for the content of the laws it passes. By requiring a vote in Congress, the REINS Act would result in more carefully drafted and detailed legislation, an improved regulatory process, and a legislative branch that is truly accountable to the American people for the laws imposed upon them.
Passed by a vote of 241-184 on December 7, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
19) Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act of 2011 (H.R. 1633) – Would prohibit the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) from proposing, finalizing, implementing, or enforcing any regulation revising the National Ambient Air Quality Standard applicable to coarse particulate matter under the Clean Air Act for at least one year from the date of enactment.
Passed by a vote of 268-150 on December 8, 2011 – Baldwin Voted Nay
