By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D) issued a press release on December 20, 2011 in which she said, “I am deeply disappointed in Congress’s failure to put aside partisan politics.” Rep. Sewell said that “it is unacceptable that some of my Republican colleagues in the House have once again refused to compromise.”
Congresswoman Sewell said that the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives should have passed the Democratic-controlled Senate’s two month extension, “While I had hoped for a one-year extension agreement, the two-month compromise agreed to by the Senate is better than the alternative—letting millions of Americans suffer economic hardship on January 1, 2012. As members of Congress, it is absurd that we are being deprived of the opportunity to vote for a bill that would add certainty to our economy and extend these essential benefits for millions of Americans.”
Rep. Sewell said that the Senate Bill “reflected a compromise that was negotiated in good faith by Senate Democrats and Republicans. It was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate—89 Senators, including 39 Republicans, voted in favor of it. However, House Republicans refuse to bring this compromise to the floor for a vote.”
Rep. Sewell wrote that “our constituents elected us to make their lives better, not worse. This latest Republican grandstand will cost the American public dearly. As a result, 160 million middle class Americans will see a payroll tax increase, over two million Americans and almost 25,000 Alabamians will begin losing their unemployment benefits and millions of senior citizens on Medicare could find it harder to receive treatment from physicians.”
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell represents the 7th Congressional District of Alabama. Her district includes parts of Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and the Black Belt Counties. The 7th District was represented by Artur Davis until he ran for Governor of Alabama. Rep. Sewell serves on both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Sewell is originally from Selma.
Most press sources expect that Congress will likely implement some sort of extension when they come back from their holiday.
