Low Taxes and a Stronger Economy


From buying groceries to filling up the minivan, American families are facing increasingly tough financial decisions everyday.  Despite these hard times for families, Congress wants more of their hard-earned money.

Over Roskam’s objections, Congress has passed legislation to raise taxes by $200 billion over the next 10 years in order to pay for the $997 billion in new federal spending.

It’s obvious to all of us that $200 billion does not equal $997 billion, further demonstrating the sort of fuzzy math used in Washington. These misguided policies directly threaten more than 16 million American jobs.

Congressman Roskam believes keeping the tax burden low on families and small businesses is essential to job creation.  He also knows that low taxes lead to the type of business and personal investments that will help ensure jobs that fuel a strong economic future.
  Taxes

“Hero of the Taxpayer” -Americans for Tax Reform

In Congress, Roskam has cosponsored legislation to repeal the death tax, eliminate the marriage penalty, lower the capital gains tax, and repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax.

  • The AMT tax threatens 70,000 IL-6 families

Congressman Roskam voted against the FY09 Budget, which contained a $683 billion tax increase, the largest in American history.

  • An increase of $3,283 average for DuPage and Cook County families

Roskam also voted against a $51.6 billion tax increase on small business owners that the Democrat Majority tried to push through by hiding behind our nation’s veterans.

  • Small businesses represent 99 percent of all businesses in the nation and are responsible for creating more than 65 percent of all new jobs nationwide.

Led a bipartisan effort to extend and making permanent the research and development tax credit.

  • Currently, more than 10,000 companies utilize this incentive to innovate to ensure quality jobs remain in the United States.

Federal Spending

“Illinois’ most fiscally responsible Member of Congress”
-Citizens Against Government Waste

In his first term in Congress, Roskam voted against $997 billion in new federal spending.

Congressman Roskam also led an effort to craft legislation which will cut federal spending by $1 billion over the next 10 years. 

Additionally, Roskam was successful in offering an amendment to H.R. 547, the Advanced Fuels Infrastructure Research and Development Act, which saved the taxpayer $10 million in new federal spending while promoting alternative energy.

Economic Growth

“The United States Chamber of Commerce presented U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam with its Spirit of Enterprise Award…for his support of pro-growth legislation.” - Liberty Suburban Newspaper, 4/11/08

Congressman Roskam believes in free maket economics that empowers Americans to spend, save and invest more their hard-earned money rather than sending it to Washington.  As increasing costs of living squeeze families budgets, it is ever more important to provide relief to families struggling in the current economy.

Keeping taxes low on families and small businesses is esesntial to create the jobs that will help fuel a stronger economy.

  • Supported the passage of a bi-partisan economic stimulus package to jump-start the economy and put more tax dollars back in the pockets of hard working Americans. 

The price at the pump directly impacts our economy. Rising fuel prices place an increasing strain on American families and small business.

  • Costly fuel prices reduce profit margins for small business owners and garnishes wages for workers

Congress must end our dependence on foreign oil by increasing environmentally sensitive domestic exploration and production. Doing so will help to provide consumer relief, stimulate a lagging economic and alleviate our dangerous dependence on foreign energy sources.

Next: Expanding Access to Health Care