(Washington, DC): -- Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island) joined Senator Charles Schumer, House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Democrat, Charles Rangel (D-Harlem), and fellow Democratic colleagues to demand that Republican congressional leaders abandon plans to block the renewal of tax extenders critical to teachers and middle-class families before adjourning for the October recess.

McNulty said, "Without action now, a key tax break used by many teachers — a $250 deduction for those that buy school supplies for their students — will no longer be available, and another important tax benefit that has expired — the $4,000 deduction for college tuition — will not be extended. We must provide teachers with all the support we can as they work to meet new professional, personal, and academic demands. Leaving town without renewing these tax provisions amounts to raising taxes on middle class Americans."

“When the average family sits around the kitchen table and asks what has Congress done this year, they probably can’t come up with an answer,” Senator Schumer said. “What people are looking for is help since dollars are being stretched in every direction. But unfortunately, this Republican Congress has wasted precious time and squandered the last four months by focusing on fantastical, rather than real issues. And when it comes to protecting the middle class, the greatest affront of all is the Republicans allowing the college tuition tax deduction to expire. It’s the most clear cut case of Republicans putting the cares of a few wealthy Americans over the needs of millions of middle class taxpayers who are being crushed by the rising cost of college.”

“If the President would expend as much energy pushing for the tax extenders as he does for estate tax benefits for the 7,500 wealthiest families, millions of Americans would avoid a tax increase when these laws expire,” said Ways and Means Ranking Member Charles B. Rangel. “Our workers, businesses, and investors deserve certainty, but right now they’re stuck playing the pawn in a Republican strategy that isn’t just bad tax policy, but bad public policy.”

"While Democrats have repeatedly worked to prevent this shameful tax hike, Republicans have blocked them at every turn, in order to protect massive, fiscally irresponsible tax handouts for multi-millionaires," McNulty added.

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