By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt (R) from Haleyville said in an email to constituents that a deal can still be reached on fiscal cliff and sequestration crises. Rep. Jo Bonner (R) from Mobile said in his weekly column that the ball however is in President Obama’s court
Rep. Aderholt said, “After January 1st, unless legislation is passed by both the House and Senate and then signed by the President, tax rates under current law will rise on nearly every taxpayer and a mandatory across-the-board cut will bring harmful spending cuts to our national defense.”
Rep. Bonner said, “As you already know, talks between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner bogged down right before Christmas as the country nears the “fiscal cliff” on January 1, 2013.”
Rep. Aderholt said, “In May, the House voted to replace sequestration, with targeted cuts that would protect our national security and address the drivers of our nation’s debt. In August, the House voted to extend all current tax rates through the next year. These measures represent the House’s commitment to cut federal spending, protect American families and small businesses and restore our economy to a prosperous state. Sadly, again the Senate has opted not to act.”
Rep. Bonner said, “Given the fact the House had, earlier this year, already passed legislation to stop all of the January 1st tax rates from going up, as well as a bill to replace the sequester with responsible spending cuts – two measures that Senator Reid has never even brought up for a vote in the Senate, it is now time for President Obama and the Senate Democrats to offer their plan.”
Rep. Aderholt said that there is still some hope. “The lines of communication between the House of Representatives and the President remain open and a deal may still indeed be reached that protects Alabama families and small businesses and includes significant cuts to federal spending.”
Rep. Bonner concluded, “There will still be time, before the end of the year, to take some action on a reasonable resolution. Unfortunately, the ball is in their court.”
President Obama is demanding higher income taxes while postponing dealing with increasing entitlements and debt in exchange for continuing any of the current income and FICA tax rates. Republicans meanwhile worry about raising taxes on America’s small business owners in this weak economy and about devastating defense cuts that will go into effect automatically on January 1.
