Washington, DC – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) made the following statement on Tuesday evening in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight the President laid out a vision for America that was formulated on the same failed policies that have left millions of Americans without a job – more taxes and more spending. The President’s call for higher taxes is anything but tax reform.  Tax reform should result in a simpler, fairer tax code for families and more jobs for American workers.  The President’s plan does nothing to change a tax code that is so complex that nearly 90 percent of families are forced to pay someone else to prepare their taxes or buy commercial software just to fill out their tax return.  Similarly, instead of closing loopholes to lower rates and create more jobs, the President closes loopholes simply to pay for more spending in Washington.  More spending and more taxes are not the answer to America’s problems.  I’ll work with the President to close loopholes, but only if it results in hardworking taxpayers getting a simpler, fairer tax code and an economy with more jobs – that is real tax reform.”