“At a time when our economy is weakening, the last thing we should do is raise taxes in order to feed more government spending in Washington,” said Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.  “Without this legislation, the average tax bill for someone living in Montana will increase by more than $2,600 a year. Less than a week away from tax day, I think Montanans would agree they’re already paying the federal government enough.”

The Tax Increase Prevention Act would eliminate the sunset dates on several 2001 and 2003 tax provisions including the elimination of the death tax, the creation of the 10-percent tax bracket, the increase of the child tax credit, elimination of the marriage penalty, education incentives, adoption credits, dependent care credits and reduced long-term gains and dividends taxes. According to the Department of Treasury, these provisions have allowed Montanans to keep approximately $2.4 billion of their own dollars benefiting more than 336,000 families and individuals.

“When are Democrats going to learn that the people who earn the money will spend it better than bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.?,” said Rehberg.  “This legislation is about keeping Washington’s money grubbing hands out of our wallets.”