REP. SCOTT DESJARLAIS VOTES TO MAKE MIDDLE CLASS, SMALL BUSINESS TAX CUTS PERMANENT, CONTINUE ECONOMIC AND JOBS GROWTH

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) voted today to make individual and small business tax cuts, centerpieces of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which became law last year, permanent.  Legislation that also passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week would increase Americans’ ability to contribute to education, health and retirement savings plans, and small businesses’ ability to deduct start-up expenses.

   Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act became law, consumer and business confidence have reached historic highs, and unemployment has reached historic lows. The Congressman pointed out that job opportunities and wage increases for important labor sectors have been most impressive. Manufacturing jobs are soaring, working-class Americans are seeing more rapid wage growth, compared to higher-income groups, and rural areas are experiencing a resurgence.

   After revising downward economic growth estimates under the Obama Administration, which raised taxes, the Congressional Budget Office revised them upward, after tax cuts. For the first time in more than a decade, the economic growth rate is on target to reach three percent or more this fiscal year, Rep. DesJarlais said.

   “Democrats will tell you that individual and small business tax cuts expire, but that’s because they refused to cooperate with Republican efforts to help the middle class. We forged ahead anyway, and the results have been stellar. Americans are finding full-time jobs with rising wages and better benefits. Yet today, when they had an opportunity to make tax cuts permanent, Democrats voted ‘no.’

   “And if they were to control Congress, Big Government liberals would hike taxes immediately. I’m committed to reducing Tennesseans’ taxes, as well as Washington spending, to help people of every income bracket and background attain the American Dream,” said Rep. DesJarlais.

   This week, the National Federation of Independent Business, the country’s leading small business association, and the National Taxpayers Union, “The Voice of America’s Taxpayers,” awarded Rep. DesJarlais their highest honors for his work to grow jobs and the economy.

###