On Friday, February 17, 2012, Representative Scott DesJarlais (TN-04) issued the following statement after voting against the deal to extend the payroll tax break for the remainder of the year.

“Today’s legislation will add nearly $100 billion to the debt burden laid on the backs of every man, woman and child in America. Clearly, Washington is both broke and broken. I could not in good faith support a package that continues this trend and once again confirms that our government is still not serious about getting its spending under control. 

“In December of last year, I voted in favor of a responsible bill that would have extended the payroll tax break for an entire year. This legislation was paid for by a series of commonsense spending reforms and reductions, 90% of which were endorsed by the president. Unfortunately, President Obama and Senate Democrats chose to put politics before the American people and would only accept a two month extension. As a result, rather than passing reasonable bill that was fully paid for, we now have an irresponsible extension that will further add to our nation’s economic turmoil.

“I am very disheartened that this Congress was willing to negate a full year’s worth of spending cuts in exchange for political procrastination.”