WASHINGTON -- Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after Monday's cloture vote on H.R. 4853:
"I voted to invoke cloture on H.R. 4853 because of the two options before us, I believed this was in the better interest of Delawareans," Senator Coons said.
"I simply could not cast a vote to increase the taxes of Delaware's middle class. I could not vote to leave those out of work without unemployment insurance. I could not ignore the urgent need for investment in policies and programs that will help create the jobs that will pull our nation out of this recession.
"There are some elements of the package that I support and fought to have included, like an extension of the research and development tax credit and a series of measures that promote investments in green technology. But it does not include two measures that I believe are important to our nation's economic recovery: an extension of the Build America Bonds program and an expansion of the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit. Today I cosponsored amendments that would restore both measures to the bill that will ultimately be considered.
"This bill is not ideal. Extending tax cuts for millionaires at a time when our deficit is spiraling is irresponsible, but as the President and economists have argued, raising taxes on the middle class during a recession is dangerous.
"There are too many other important issues that need the Senate's urgent attention and we need to start moving forward again."