Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) released the following statement after the House today passed the payroll tax cut conference agreement: a package that extends the payroll tax holiday, blocks a major pay cut to physicians that treat Medicare patients, and includes reforms of unemployment benefits - all through the end of 2012. Schilling, who supported a 12-month extension in December, again voted in supported of the extension of benefits.
"In December, the House of Representatives passed a responsible, bipartisan package to protect American workers and job creators from tax increases for a full year, provide for a two-year extension of the Medicare 'doc fix,' and extend and reform the Unemployment Insurance Program. If I could have had my way, that package would have become law," Schilling said.
"But we control one-half of one-third of the federal government. We don't control the Senate or the White House - we don't control Washington. Government still must govern, even if it is divided. So although I would have preferred to avoid the uncertainty of the last two months, December's two-month extension was better than nothing. I am grateful the President and the Senate have finally agreed to the certainty today's full-year extension provides.
"Today marks three years since the president's failed near- trillion dollar stimulus package was enacted, and my vote today is a compromise in the name of economic relief. We have a responsibility to help folks in the short term with the passage of this package, and we have a responsibility to continue our focus on long-term, pro-growth economic policies to help businesses create jobs. The House has passed more than 25 jobs bills that would help Americans get paychecks, not unemployment checks. I urge the president and the Senate to work with us in enacting measures that will create long-term private sector jobs."
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