Tim Scott (R-SC)
Allen West (R-FL)
Bobby Scott (D-VA)
Here was Bobby Scott’s rationale for voting no:
Scott Opposes Irresponsible Fiscal Cliff Deal
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) issued the following statement on his No vote on H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012:
“The Simpson-Bowles Commission set a $4 trillion, 10-year deficit reduction goal, which would be enough to get our fiscal house in order. Considering that deficit reduction goal, I voted against this bill because it cut taxes and will add a staggering $3.9 trillion to our deficit with no indication of how it will be paid for.
“Unfortunately, there are now very few options available to Congress to offset the cost of this tax deal. There simply isn’t enough money in defense and non-defense discretionary spending to offset the cost. If spending cuts in defense and non-defense discretionary spending alone was the answer then we wouldn’t be delaying sequestration for two months as this bill does. By virtue of the size of this tax cut, it is an arithmetic certainty that Congress will have to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, other vital programs of the social safety net, as well as investments in our future economic competitiveness, such as education and transportation.
“Responsibly reducing our budget deficit requires making tough, unpopular choices. We didn’t do that today since this bill does nothing to reduce our deficit. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill will add $3.9 trillion to our deficit. It does, however, make the task of responsibly reducing our deficit all the more difficult and makes it much more likely that seniors, the disabled, students, and our most vulnerable communities will bear the greatest burden when Congress eventually pays for what we did today.”
