Westmoreland opposes giant tax increase 

"The budget bill passed today dives into the wallets of my Georgia constituents," Westmoreland said. "Democrats have been in power for three months and they're already returning to their tax-and-spend habits. The American taxpayers have a big bill coming there way if this is enacted into law. 

"I voted today for the Republican alternative budget that keeps the historic tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 in place, allowing hard-working Americans to keep more of what they earn so that they can provide for their families as they see fit. 

"The Democrat budget that passed today raises taxes on Americans by $400 billion over the next five years. That's $1,795 a year for 115 million Americans; that's $4,000 a year for the 40 million small businesses, the economic engines that fuel 80 percent of our nation's job growth. 

"This bill takes direct aim at the tax provisions that have done the most to help American families. It cuts the critically important child tax credit by half and eliminates marriage penalty relief for 23 million couples. 

"I'm the first to admit that the Republican-controlled Congresses of the past few years failed to pass responsible budgets. We failed to control the growth of government and failed to rein in spending. But when the American people voted for change in November, they weren't giving the Democrats a mandate for huge tax hikes, and I expect the members who voted for this budget today are going to hear that from their constituents back home." 

Despite Democratic promises of fiscal restraint, the House-passed budget increases non-defense discretionary spending by $24 billion and does nothing to restrain the exploding growth of entitlement spending.