Two thousand dollars divided by 12 equals $167 per month, which is approximately what a typical middle-class family will lose if Congress lets the middle-class tax cuts expire on Dec. 31.
What can $167 mean - a car payment, a water bill, school supplies or a trip to Costco? Middle-class families don't have much of a margin in their budgets, so why burden families who can least afford more taxes?
Congress has the power to give peace of mind to millions of families this month by voting to extend middle-class tax breaks and leaving the approximate $2,000 in their pockets next year. The Senate has already passed a bill to extend the tax cuts for the middle class. Now is the time to tell the House leadership to do the same - that $167 a month matters.
Hope Busto-Keyes
Wailuku
