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Democratic Congressional Candidate seeking compromise on tax cuts

By NICOLE PITT

Story Created: Jul 30, 2012 at 5:10 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 30, 2012 at 5:31 PM EDT

WHITESBORO, N.Y. (WKTV) - Senate Democrats and Republicans are split when it comes to extending the income tax breaks that former President George W. Bush started during his first term, and on Monday, a candidate for U.S. Congress was in Whitesboro to talk about compromise and how it could play a role in the debate.

Democrat Dan Lamb is running against Republican incumbent Richard Hanna in the newly formed 22nd District. Lamb was at Glen Haven Park in Whitesboro on Monday afternoon, where he called for compromise in the debate to extend middle class tax cuts. Senate Democrats voted to put an end to tax cuts for those in the high income brackets, while Senate Republicans want to extend them for all tax payers.

Lamb says he wants both parties to meet in the middle before taxes go up across the board.

"There's a middle ground out there and I think that's where I think most of the country is at," Lamb said. "And they are wondering 'well when we have differences in our dealings in our businesses and in our neighborhoods, we try and find compromise.' We come together and work together for a solution that meets everybody's needs as best as possible."

Lamb says Washington's failure to compromise on the tax cuts could send the economy further into recession.

"Instead of the democrats insisting on 98% and republicans insisting on 100% of tax payers getting a break, let's go to 99% that we extend the Bush tax credits," Lamb said. "And that would set a limit roughly around $400,000."

Congressman Hanna's Spokesperson, Renee Gamela, issued the following response to Lamb's statements:

"Richard Hanna has consistently said the best way to energize the economy is to put money in the hands of the people who earn it and spend it - the middle class - which is why this week he will vote to extend tax relief for middle class New Yorkers and businesses in Central New York," Gamela said. "Moving forward, he thinks it would be difficult to see a major deficit reduction package enacted that doesn't include some marginal increases on the nation's highest earners paired with significant spending cuts."

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