Walberg Weekly Wrap-Up

Statement

WALBERG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

It has been another busy week on the legislative front in the House. Allow me to provide a quick update:

Working Against the Largest Tax Increase in American History

Next week the Democratic Budget Resolution that passed the House in March is scheduled to be voted on in a bi-cameral conference. If the conference report passes the House and Senate, it would be enacted and impose upon taxpayers the largest tax increase in American history, nearly $400 billion dollars over the next five years.

A new study released by the Heritage Foundation this week revealed that if the conference report is approved, the Democratic budget would raise taxes by $3,019 per Seventh District resident, cost south-central Michigan 2,272 jobs and cost the Seventh District's economy $207,000,000.

Congress needs to pass a balanced budget bill without raising taxes. We need to make tax relief permanent for hard-working American families and implement common-sense policies for the future.

My message to House leadership during the debate on this final proposal will be simple: Leave more resources with the hard working people and small businesses that make our communities strong, and no more tax increase.

Asian Carp Barrier Act

As I have written before, I am proud to be part of a broad, bi-partisan coalition that is working to implement a strategy for the restoration, protection and sustainable use of the Great Lakes.

In addition to supporting a comprehensive bill that would help stop sewage contamination, prevent invasive species introductions and restore wetlands in the Great Lakes, I am also supporting H.R. 553, the Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act.

This legislation would specifically authorize funding, construction and maintenance of a double barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to stop the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.

Asian carp consume large amounts of food and compete with native fish for habitat throughout the Great Lakes region. Our Great Lakes would suffer irreparable harm if the Asian carp enters Lake Michigan.

With other aquatic invasive species already wreaking havoc on our waters, the threat posed by Asian carp is not one Michiganders can afford to overlook. We must act now and construct barriers to protect native fish and wildlife from these large, non-native predatory fish.

Keeping Michigan's Ethanol Industry Competitive

This week I also introduced legislation that would level the playing field for Michigan commercial ethanol producers and allow them to compete in the world marketplace. Currently, ethanol for commercial purposes does not qualify for the ethanol tax credit, and my legislation will correct this tax discrimination by treating retail and commercial ethanol equally.

Correcting this inequity will allow a 7th District company, the Silbond Coporation, located in the village of Weston in Lenawee County, to continue providing 63 jobs in south-central Michigan.

I introduced this legislation so Michigan companies can continue providing Michigan jobs and continue exporting Michigan products around the world. This legislation encourages the use of alternative fuels, keeps good paying jobs in our district and fixes an inequity in our tax system.

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