Bishop: Extend Bush tax cuts

ATLANTA – A Congressman from South Georgia says “it is imperative that Congress returns immediately to take action (on the so-called “Bush Tax Cuts”) before the election.”

U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., who is facing a tough re-election, said in an op-ed that is disappointed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi did not schedule a vote to extend the tax cuts before the House adjourned until after the Nov. 2 general election. Bishop voted in favor of the resolution to adjourn.

“If Congress fails to act in a timely manner to extend the tax relief, higher tax rates for all Georgians will ensue as well as the most oppressive estate tax we have seen in a decade,” Bishop said in an op-ed.

“I strongly believe that Congress should have acted before going into recess until the election,” Bishop added. “The expiration of the Bush tax cuts will have a dramatic effect on Georgia citizens across the socio-economic spectrum. Continuing to put this problem off until after the November elections as Speaker Pelosi has done is the wrong way to proceed. The bottom line is this – Georgia needs action now so that tax relief can boost the economy and create jobs.”

Bishop faces Republican Mike Keown on Nov. 2. Keown, a state representative, took little time before criticizing Bishop over his vote in favor of adjourning.

“Yesterday Rep. Bishop voted for adjournment and higher taxes then went out and immediately told the good people of the 2nd District that he opposes those same taxes,” Keown said in a Thursday blog post. “I’m sorry Congressman, but you just cannot have it both ways. The way I was raised, actions speak louder than words, and when it comes to politics and our representation in Congress, I believe that votes speak louder than words. You cannot campaign one way, and then vote in direct contradiction.”

Bishop is among three Democratic Congressmen from Georgia who oppose President Obama on his position to allow the tax cuts expire.

Earlier this month, Bishop and Reps. John Barrow and Jim Marshall, all members of the Blue Dog Coalition of moderate Democrats, were among 31 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives who signed a letter to Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging that the tax cuts remain in place.