Republicans to blame

If anyone questions the sincerity of Republicans decrying the national debt, the answer can always be found in The Times’ weekly article “How your U.S. lawmaker voted.”

The Republicans consistently vote as a bloc against any measure that may reduce the national debt, which they fear would make President Obama look good.

During the week ending April 20, the Republican-dominated House approved a bill providing a 20 percent tax cut to firms with fewer than 500 workers, but without the requirement to use the benefit to expand payroll or to stop laying off workers or sending jobs overseas. [NWSunday, April 22.]

This cut is expected to add $46 billion to U.S. debt. By a second vote, a Democratic proposal to deny the tax cut to companies engaged in pornography, lobbying, drug trafficking or prostitution was defeated.

In addition, the Senate last week voted 51-45 against the “Buffett rule” on taxes, which says it is wrong for wealthy persons to pay taxes at a lower rate than their employees.

A minimum tax of 30 percent on households with at least $1 million in income from salaries and/or investments would have meant billions more dollars to offset the national debt. (Granted, a few Democrats voted with Republicans, as 60 votes are needed to pass.)

Please remember: “A poor person voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders.”

— Diane B. Nelson, Port Ludlow