Becker Rips McCarthy for Delaying Vote on Tax Cuts

Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District Francis Becker criticized Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) for delaying a vote on whether to extend the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, which expire at the end of this year. The Democrats voted to adjourn Congress and take up the matter in its next session, which is held after the November elections.
   
"Carolyn McCarthy held in her hands the opportunity to help our district and keep Congress in session and force the vote to continue the tax cuts," Becker said at a Tuesday news conference held at his campaign headquarters. "She held it in her hands and she let it go. She abandoned us once again."
   
Becker, a Nassau County legislator and supporter of extending the tax cuts, said the delay is causing concern among many Long Island business owners, some of which expressed to him that they cannot do any financial planning for their business or families because they don't know what their taxes are going to be in 2011.
   
Becker added that individuals and families on Long Island, many of them struggling with the economic recession, would be paying thousands of dollars more in 2011 if the tax cuts were to expire.
   
"We don't need more of our money leaving Long Island to go to Washington to fall into a black hole, never to be seen again," Becker said.
   
But McCarthy said she is confident that Congressional lawmakers — herself included — will vote to extend the tax cuts when lawmakers return for the next session in mid-November, a plan she says Becker is well aware of.
   
"Mr. Becker already knows that I'm voting to extend the tax cuts," McCarthy said. "He basically said we weren't going to do the tax cuts … we will definitely be doing the extension for the tax cuts."
   
Delaying the vote was so lawmakers could have more time to hammer out the details, McCarthy said. For her part, the $250,000-and-above classification of middle-class in America — which many House Democrats support — doesn't quite cut it in her district.
   
"Here on Long Island, if you have somebody making $150,000, you take off property taxes, school taxes, and other taxes that add up, you're not taking home that much money," said McCarthy, who said she feels the $250,000 figure should be somewhat higher to incorporate Long Island's high living costs.
   
"When we go back in November," McCarthy said, "we'll be staying in session for as long as it takes to complete."
   
McCarthy and Becker will vie for the 4th Congressional District seat on Tuesday, Nov. 2.