Washington, DC – Today, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement in reaction to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s statement that the Obama Administration is ready to go over the fiscal cliff if tax rates are not increased.
“It is irresponsible for the President and Treasury Secretary to prefer to drive this country back into a recession instead of working with Republicans on tax reform – tax reform that can and will raise the revenue they are demanding. The Administration’s position that rates must go up is not based on policy; it is purely political, and it is a complete reversal of the revenue demands they made just a year ago. Risking the jobs of hundreds of thousands of middle-class Americans for political gain is no way to run a country. Republicans have been clear: we don’t like raising revenue, but we are willing to work with the President on a balanced approach to avoid the fiscal cliff. However, revenue should be raised from comprehensive tax reform that strengthens our economy, not higher tax rates that every credible study says will cost middle-class Americans their jobs.”