December 2, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement tonight, after 51 senators – including Republican Senator Susan Collins – voted in favor of Democrats’ payroll tax cut legislation, while twenty-six Senate Republicans voted against their own alternative:

“Republicans proved tonight they are more interested in tax cuts for millionaires than tax cuts for the middle class. The legislation they blocked would have put $1,500 in the pockets of the average middle-class family in America and across Nevada next year. The bill was fully paid for by asking millionaires to pay just over three percent on their incomes above $1 million.

“Republicans spent this week trying to convince us that they support middle-class tax cuts, but tonight a majority of Senate Republicans voted against their own bill – calling into question whether they support middle-class tax cuts at all.

“I was encouraged to see one Republican join Democrats in asking millionaires to pay their fair share. But because every other Republican continues to insist on protecting millionaires, middle class families could face a $1,000 tax increase next year. Democrats will not stop fighting to avoid that outcome. I hope Republicans will decide that the economic security of hard-working Americans is more important than protecting the wealthiest one percent.”

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