Virginia Organizing to Protest Senator Webb’s Vote Against the Middle Class Tax Cuts and Extending Unemployment Benefits
Danville, VA – With the tax cut debate heating up in Washington, local residents are unhappy that Senator Jim Webb voted against extending unemployment benefits for 2 million people. On Thursday, December 9 at 11:00 a.m., members and supporters of the local chapter of Virginia Organizing will gather outside of Senator Webb’s Danville office to oppose his Saturday vote against extending unemployment benefits for one year and against extending the middle class tax cuts for those making under $250,000.
WHO:Virginia Organizing community leaders
WHAT:Action, Senator Webb: Don’t Let the Devil’s Bargain Happen
WHEN: Thursday, December 9, 2010, 11:00-11:45 a.m.
WHERE: Senator Webb’s District Office, 308 Craghead Street, Danville, VA
On Saturday (December 4), the U.S. Senate failed to extend the tax cuts for only the middle class and extend unemployment benefits for one year. Now Congress and President Barack Obama are poised to extend all of the tax cuts for two years. Protesters say that while they are pleased that unemployment benefits will be extended for one year, extending the tax cuts for the wealthy represents “a devil’s bargain.” They say extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy will cost an additional $140 billion in deficit spending over the next two years and will not create jobs. Local residents will gather outside of Senator Webb’s office with signs that show a giant scorecard to demonstrate who the tax cuts will benefit: the wealthy or the middle class.
"With disappointing November employment figures and 2 million people about to lose their unemployment benefits, it seems that a tax cut for the wealthy is something that the unemployed can’t afford. People’s livelihoods are being used as political bargaining chips in a game that the people of Southside Virginia can’t play. In the past I have felt that Senator Webb was fighting for working families like mine, said David Harrison of Ringgold. "But his vote against the middle class tax cuts makes me question whom he is representing in Washington."
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