Guffey Asks Members to Send Congress a Message:
Extend Tax Cuts for Americans
Making Less Than $250,000

APWU Web News Article #144-12, Nov. 29, 2012

APWU President Cliff Guffey is calling on union members to send a message to Congress: Extend the tax cuts for Americans making less than $250,000 per year and oppose any efforts to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits.

The APWU president is echoing a call by President Obama, who urged middle-class Americans to let Congress know how a tax increase of $2,000 per year would hurt them. An average increase of $2,000 will take effect on Jan. 1 if Congress fails to extend the tax cuts.

A majority of Republicans in Congress are refusing to extend tax cuts for 98 percent of America’s families unless tax cuts are also extended for the nation’s wealthiest citizens. Obama and Democrats in Congress say those earning more than $250,000 per year must pay a higher tax rate to help reduce the deficit. Polls indicate that more than 60 percent of Americans support this solution.

Speaking at the White House on Nov. 28, Obama said, “I’m asking Americans all across the country to make your voice heard. Tell members of Congress what a $2,000 tax hike would mean to you.

“Call your members of Congress. Write them an e-mail. Post it on their Facebook walls. You can tweet it using the hash tag #my2k,” Obama said.

Guffey amended the president’s call: “In addition to sending e-mails and posting messages on Facebook, APWU members should send letters to members of Congress,” he said. “We must let our senators and representatives know that we want the tax cuts extended for middle-class families.

“We also must urge Congress to stand firm against cuts to the U.S. Postal Service and to the rights of postal employees,” he said.

Click here for a sample letter to senators [PDF].

Click here for a sample letter to represenatives [PDF].

Union members can send messages electronically, by clicking here.