Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) issued the following statement today following his vote against H.R. 4853, the "Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2010, Part III."  In a ploy to force a vote that would raise taxes on small business owners, Democrat leaders exploited current House rules with an amendment to strip the contents of an unrelated bill and replace it with the new "Middle Class Tax Relief Act."  H.R. 4853 passed the House by a vote of 234 to 188.

“What we’ve witnessed today on the House floor is precisely why Americans voted to remove the gavel from Speaker Pelosi’s control.  Raising taxes on any group, especially small business owners, is unconscionable during these tough economic times.” said McHenry.  “This vote is simply a political stunt by Democrats who know that the White House and Republican leaders are negotiating in good faith to reach a compromise.”

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