Wasserman Schultz: GOPs who didn't cheer tax cuts 'not rooting for America' By Walter Alarkon - 01/28/10 12:32 AM ET Democrats are blasting Republicans for sitting on their hands when President Barack Obama touted the middle-class tax cuts in the stimulus during his State of the Union speech Wednesday. Just after the president pointed out that the Democrats' $787 billion stimulus included tax cuts for the middle class, small businesses and first-time homebuyers, congressional Democrats stood and applauded while Republicans remained seated.
"I thought I'd get some applause on that," he said, pointing at the side of the House chamber where the Republicans were seated.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) went further.
"The only explanation I can think of is that they're just not rooting for America to succeed," she told The Hill. "I don't know how you can sit through proposals like providing tax cuts for middle-class Americans, getting an injection of cash into the hands of small-business owners so we can create jobs."
The stimulus provided a tax break of up to $400 per year for Americans making less than $200,000 and reduced fees for loans guaranteed by the federal Small Business Administration.
Later in the speech, Obama proposed further small business tax breaks, including a credit for firms who hire workers or raise employee wages and the elimination of the capital gains tax on small firms.
Republicans, asked why they didn't applaud president's tax cut lines, said that Obama's big initiatives, especially his push to expand healthcare and address climate change, would result in more taxes on Americans and fewer jobs.
"His real message was that we're going to increase taxes on small businesses, the job creators of this nation," said Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.). "What he doesn't appreciate is that when you increase taxes on individuals and businesses that make over $250,000, you decrease the ability of jobs to be created in this nation."
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) found the president's attack "disappointing" and he questioned whether Obama would follow through on his tax cut plans.
Hensarling said that Obama and Democrats should first back off reforming the healthcare system, a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions and spending that is adding to the country's $12.3 trillion debt.
"Until you remove that, you're not going to get significant job growth," he said.
