Dear friend,

Arrington Votes Against Dems’ Multi-Trillion Dollar Tax-And-Spend Bonanza

Over the last week, I participated in a House Ways and Means Committee markup of Democrats' $3.5 trillion tax hike and spending package, legislation I believe will be devastating for American families. To ensure you are receiving the latest updates from me, I encourage you to visit my website, and follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. 

Ahead of these committee meetings, I joined CNBC's Squawk Box to discuss Democrats' reconciliation package and to preview what lied ahead in Ways and Means, the committee with the largest jurisdiction over the legislation. Watch my interview here and below. 

As the markup began, I gave my opening remarks in opposition to this package, which I believe represents the most radical re-imagination of the role of the federal government in the lives of its citizens we've ever seen. Watch these remarks here and below. 

Speaking in support of an amendment offered by Ranking Member Kevin Brady (TX-8), I voiced my objection to Democrats’ efforts to increase the corporate tax rate. I believe this proposal will chase jobs overseas, make the U.S. less competitive, and stifle our recovery at a time when American businesses are fighting for customers and market share in the global economy. Watch my remarks here and below. 

Over the course of the markup, I introduced several amendments addressing some of the most concerning aspects of this legislation and participated in debate of many others.

I introduced an amendment to protect America’s energy sector by requiring the Biden administration to guarantee that their assault on American energy producers would not harm the United States’ energy independence or advantage foreign adversaries like Iran, China, Russia, and Venezuela. Democrats voted against this amendment, opting to slap more punitive taxes on our producers that will hurt our global competitiveness & force the world to rely on “petro tyrants” for their energy needs. Watch my remarks in support of this amendment here and below.
 

I’ll put my Congressional district up against any in terms of renewable energy. In TX-19, we generate more wind energy than the entire state of California 3 times over. However, we don’t need to tear down oil and gas to support renewable energy. Watch my comments in support of our all of the above energy approach. 

As Democrats throw billions at unemployed workers in the name of “trade relief,” they blocked my amendment that would provide assistance for the thousands of workers whose livelihoods were impacted by Biden’s unilateral decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline. Watch my remarks on this amendment here.
 
I also offered an amendment expressing the sense of Congress that the final reconciliation package should not include special tax breaks for blue-state millionaires, a supercharged "death tax," or to require banks to share account information with the IRS. Democrats opposed this amendment, refusing to fully commit to keeping these provisions from being added to the reconciliation package later. Watch my comments about this amendment here. 

More than 90% of the products we use every day have petrochemical components. Still, Democrats want to increase taxes on these products, piling another layer of cost on American families already crushed under inflation & runaway government spending. While I offered an amendment to prevent Democrats from hiking excise taxes on petroleum products that would only drive prices higher, Democrats predictably objected. Watch my remarks in support of this amendment here. 

The "death tax" is the most unfair and un-American tax in our tax code. Our hardworking agriculture producers feed and clothe the American people, taking unbelievable risks with weather and market volatility. The last thing family farms, ranches, and small businesses need is the threat of the IRS taking away all they have labored over for generations. I spoke in support of an amendment that would stop Democrats from lowering the "death tax" exemption that has protected millions of farms. Watch my comments on the "death tax" here. 

As always, it is an honor and privilege to represent you in Congress. Feel free to forward this newsletter to our fellow West Texans and encourage them to sign up here for this weekly update.

Your friend and fellow West Texan,

Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress