Aug 17, 2012
Is This What Leadership Looks Like? Judy Biggert Enjoys 5 Weeks Paid Vacation on Taxpayer Dime
Tax relief for Illinois middle class families is being held hostage in Washington. Medicare is on the chopping block. Economists believe Tea Party gridlock is slowing economic growth. So where can people in Illinois find Congresswoman Judy Biggert? Taking a vacation of course! On Illinois taxpayers' dime.
The Washington Post reported today that Republican Congresswoman Biggert couldn't be reached in Illinois because she's currently relaxing on a five-week, tax-payer funded vacation. There are a mere 13 days that Republican Congresswoman Biggert and the Tea Party have scheduled to be at work before Election Day.
"Congresswoman Judy Biggert voted to give millionaires and billionaires more tax breaks so she seems to think her work in Washington is done, and she can charge middle class families for 5 weeks vacation," said Haley Morris of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "People in Illinois aren’t getting a 5 week paid vacation, but Congresswoman Judy Biggert thinks Illinois taxpayers' should cover her relaxation while she's holding tax relief for the middle class hostage and forcing seniors to pay thousands more for Medicare. Congresswoman Biggert's decision to charge taxpayers for a vacation in the middle of a dysfunctional Congress is exactly what's wrong with Washington and why economists believe Biggert and the Tea Party are impeding economic recovery and growth."
Background
Congressional Dithering is Already Harming the Economy. “Dithering in Washington over the ‘fiscal cliff’ of automatic tax increases and spending cuts set for year-end is already hindering economic growth, according to economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal. Most observers don’t expect Congress to reach an agreement before the November elections. […] All but four of the economists who answered the question said that without a deal, concerns and preparations about the coming fiscal cliff will drag on growth for the remainder of the year. On average, the economists said that growth in the second half of 2012 will be 0.6 percentage point lower without any agreement.” [Wall Street Journal, 8/9/12]
Congresswoman Biggert Voted to Let the House Go on a Five Week Vacation. On August 2, 2012, Congresswoman Biggert voted to go on vacation until September 10, 2012. [S Con Res 56, Vote #556, 8/2/12; House Majority Leader’s House Calendar, accessed 8/2/12]
Only 13 Work Days Left in the House of Representatives Before the Election. Between now and election day, there are only 13 days House Republicans have scheduled for the House of Representatives to be in session. [Majority Leader Calendar, accessed 8/3/12]
House Republicans Voted to Give Millionaires Another $160,000 Tax Break. On August 1, 2012, House Republicans voted to give people making more than $1 million a year another $160,000 tax break. [HR 8, Vote #545, 8/1/12; House Committee on Ways and Means, 7/31/12]
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