I am angry and frustrated that national Republicans, yet again, played political games and held the middle class hostage to extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans who need them the least. It is irresponsible, selfish, and wrong.

At the end of the day, I voted for this tax package to protect middle-class families from a tax hike while extending unemployment benefits for 13 months, continuing the sales tax deduction, cutting payroll taxes, and doing everything we can to create jobs.

But it came at tremendous cost.

So I want you to join me in telling Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader John Boehner, and their right-wing colleagues that we won’t forget how they put their wealthy special interest backers ahead of the national interest and ahead of hard-working families all across America -– and we’re going to hold them accountable.

Click here to sign my open letter to Senator McConnell, Representative Boehner, and the Republican Party now -– and join me in committing to repealing these wasteful tax cuts for the wealthy as soon as we can!

While Democrats offered plans to extend middle-class tax cuts for more than 98% of all Americans, Representative Boehner, Senator McConnell, and their right-wing colleagues refused.

Quite simply, they were willing to play a massive game of chicken with the American people and let all the tax cuts expire unless they got billions of dollars to funnel back to their wealthy corporate backers.

There’s no doubt about it: This package will help millions of hard-working Americans who are doing everything they can to get by in these tough times and keep more of their hard-earned money. And it will stop Republicans from cold-heartedly cutting off unemployment benefits to people who are fighting to find jobs, keep their homes, and feed their families during the holidays.

But, to overcome Republican obstruction and selfishness, helping these middle-class families required an unnecessary and irresponsible tax giveaway for the very wealthiest Americans who aren’t facing the same challenges.

It’s outrageous.

Click here to sign my open letter to Senator McConnell, Representative Boehner, and the Republican Party now — and tell them we’ll hold them accountable for their irresponsibility!

I’m so thankful that by extending middle-class tax cuts, continuing the sales tax deduction, and extending unemployment insurance that we’ll be helping middle-class families and getting our economy back on track.

But I won’t forget the price that national Republicans made us pay to do the right thing.

And, with your help, we’ll roll back these irresponsible Bush tax cuts for the wealthy at the earliest possible opportunity.

Thanks for standing with me and speaking out.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray
U.S. Senator