Representative John Spratt and Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi Team Up to Raise Taxes

This week, Congressman John Spratt (D-SC) joined with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and advocated for raising taxes as part of a liberal counter proposal to the conservative Republican Study Committee’s Operation Offset to fund Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.

The Democrat Leader in the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Congressman John Spratt sent a letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert that recommended funding Katrina recovery efforts by increasing taxes.

“This demonstrates two distinct approaches on funding Katrina relief: liberal and conservative,” said FreedomWorks President and CEO Matt Kibbe. “You can fund reconstruction by cutting wasteful or unimportant Washington spending– as proposed by the conservatives at the RSC– or you can adhere to Rep. John Spratt’s liberal policy of wanting to increase hard working Americans’ taxes. Congressman Spratt should know that tax hikes are not the answer.”

Matt Kibbe further commented: “The 2001 and 2003 tax cuts stimulated economic growth, which actually increased the amount of tax revenue coming into the government’s coffers. By repealing these tax cuts, Congress would actually reduce revenue and economic growth. Nancy Pelosi and John Spratt have it completely wrong. The best policy to cope with this crisis: cut spending and make the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts permanent.”