Press Release - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Condemns House Vote to Extend Bush Tax Cuts for Wealthiest Americans
Extension Would Balloon Deficit and Threaten Domestic Programs
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Westbrook Simpson, 202.466.2061, simpson@civilrights.org
August 1, 2012
Washington, D.C. – Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives’ vote to extend Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. The move puts underfunded domestic programs under a greater threat of deep – and devastating -- cuts:
“Today’s House vote to extend all of the Bush tax cuts was a huge mistake. We simply cannot afford to continue providing fiscally irresponsible tax breaks for the richest Americans that hamper our ability to address critical national priorities like education, health care, job training, infrastructure, scientific research, public safety and law enforcement, housing, and social services.
The gap between the richest households and everyone else in the U.S. has widened to historically high levels, and tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans have done nothing to narrow this disparity or to create economic growth. They have, however, helped create the largest deficit in our nation’s history.
We need a balanced approach that promotes shared prosperity for all. It is time to restore some basic fairness and sound fiscal policy to our tax system.”
Nancy Zirkin is executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
