Rep. Sander Levin on tax cuts and reform
TEXT OF INTERVIEW
STEVE CHIOTAKIS: The current Chairman is another Michigan Congressman. Democrat Sander Levin. And he’s with us now to talk about the vote. Congressman, thanks for being with us.
SANDER LEVIN: Good morning.
CHIOTAKIS: Okay, so the House is voting today on tax cuts. Republicans are calling this political stunt. They say they want tax cuts for everyone, even those earning more than $250,000, why not allow a vote on that?
LEVIN: The Republicans essentially want to keep those tax cuts hostage until there is exactly the same action on upper income tax cuts. And we, today, are freeing the middle income tax cuts from the Republican hostage. That’s what this is all about.
CHIOTAKIS: Tomorrow, Sir, is the big vote on that deficit reduction package that’s been proposed by the bipartisan deficit commission. We have some early bipartisan support for the proposal that raises some taxes and cuts some benefits. Do you support a proposal like that?
LEVIN: I wouldn’t vote for that package as it is now. Because it’s necessary to move on deficit reduction, but they have some propositions there that are not wise. I think we need to reform the tax code, but they could suggest doing so in a way that would very much hurt home ownership, that would hurt the state and local governments, that would undermine healthcare reform. So I would no vote for that today, I think we need to step up to the plate on deficit reduction. That doesn’t mean their proposal should be endorsed across the board.
CHIOTAKIS: We’ve been seeing car sales, Sir, on the mend, You represent a part of Michigan. What’s your feeling about what’s going on in the auto industry.
LEVIN: It’s a good feeling. This administration stood up for the auto industry, made it essential that it continue and it’s showing its merits. It was one of the best investments we ever made. Otherwise there would’ve been hundreds of thousands of people thrown out of work.
CHIOTAKIS: Congressman Sander Levin from Michigan. Thank you Sir.
LEVIN: Thanks.
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