There He Goes Again - Cornyn Chooses Partisanship Over Tax Relief, Disaster Assistance For Texans

Written by: Tegan R on Aug 4, 2008 11:51 AM EDT

Linked to campaigns: Rick Noriega for US Senator from Texas

(Disclaimer: This post is from a Rick Noriega press release. I do not work for Noriega's campaign, but I am an intern at Democracy for America.)

Wednesday, July 30, 2008                                                
 
Houston – There he goes again. John Cornyn voted – the third time – to side with national Republicans to block a package of much needed tax cuts and disaster relief for Texans. The bill is full of initiatives important to Texans, but Cornyn continued to march lock-step with his party to block legislation critical to Texas families. While Texans have worked hard to meet the challenge of higher gas prices, increasing tuition costs, and devastating summer disasters, Cornyn has failed them in Washington.

Key Texas Provisions in the Bill:

•    An expansion of the child tax credit for Texas families. Nearly 345,000 new Texas children would have been eligible for the child tax credit, and nearly 1.2 million would have received an expanded tax credit providing much needed tax relief in the midst of an economic downturn.

•    Tax incentives for wind energy and renewable energy producers. The bill contained $18 billion in renewable energy incentives that would have helped lessen our dependence on foreign oil and created Texas jobs.

•    Extension of research and development tax credit, which helps Texas businesses innovate. Texas is one of two states with the most companies utilizing this provision.

•    Disaster Relief for the victims of Hurricane Dolly and rampant wildfires.

•    Tax relief from the alternative minimum tax.

"Cornyn has once again chosen to blindly follow national Republicans, even as it comes at the expense of Texas families." said Noriega spokesman Martine Apodaca "Partisanship has a price, and unfortunately for Texas families, Cornyn's spineless obedience to party bosses means they'll miss out on expanded child tax credits, and disaster relief. Now is not the time for partisanship. It's time for leadership."

This is just the latest in a series of Cornyn votes that show his voting record is out of touch with the problems Texans are facing. Saying one thing in Texas and doing another in Washington seems to be par for the course for Cornyn. He has claimed to want to lower gas prices, but just last week voted against ending speculation that has sent gas prices skyrocketing.

In contrast, U.S. Senate candidate Rick Noriega thinks Texas families need tax relief and lower gas prices now. Noriega believes that we not only need a comprehensive long-term energy plan, but also a short term solution to skyrocketing gas prices. His energy plan has solutions to both. In Washington, Noriega will follow the Lone Star, not party bosses.

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