Hudson: Democrats Promise Tax Increase and Deficit Spending

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) released the following statement after voting no on H. Res. 6 – Title I, the House Democrats' rules package which includes a new version of the Gephardt rule and provisions to make it easier to raise taxes.

The rules package makes several changes effecting budget and appropriations policy that could result in increased spending, higher taxes and fiscal irresponsibility. One provision would repeal the dynamic scoring requirement for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation when drafting budget estimates for major legislation, thus making it easier to raise taxes on all Americans. Further, another provision would remove the requirement that three-fifths of Representatives must vote to raise income tax rates and remove the requirement that income tax raises receive a recorded vote. It would change the requirement to a simple majority and allow these measures to be voice voted.

Included in the rules package is also a revised version of the Gephardt rule. The new rule would automatically raise the debt limit, which is our nation's borrowing limit, once the U.S. House of Representatives passes a budget. The debt limit suspension would be sent to the Senate as a separate piece of legislation, thus enabling the House to avoid taking an important vote on the debt limit.

Rep. Hudson does not support this rule because he believes Congress must have a debate on raising the debt ceiling and work to address the drivers of our debt. Americans deserve accountability from their Representatives and a separate vote on the debt limit. Rep. Hudson has never voted to increase the debt limit and never will unless we get serious spending reforms. He continues to fight to cut Washington’s spending and tackle our nation’s debt with bold ideas, including the Federal Sunset Act (H.R. 39), which he reintroduced yesterday.