Tom McClintock talks taxes at Rocklin Town Hall

Rocklin, CA - Surrounded by concerned constituents after a town hall meeting at the Rocklin Event Center Tuesday evening, Representative Tom McClintock said he would, "absolutely," support ending corporate tax loopholes when pushed for an answer by California Fair Share Organizer, Patrick Stelmach.  He also affirmed that the fact that General Electric did not pay any taxes to the federal government for several years was not right, saying, "that is true, and that is a travesty." Today, Sierra College students and local activists gathered in the center of campus to ask fellow students to take a minute and call Representative McClintock. They urged action to end corporate tax loopholes immediately, and make job creation the priority in the ongoing budget debate in Washington, DC.  The action was part of the Put America to Work campaign, led by California Fair Share. 

Representative McClintock must act on his words. As he said, it's outrageous that so many corporations exploit loopholes in the tax code to avoid paying their fair share," said Stelmach. "Gaping loopholes are costing us billions of dollars. Representative McClintock and the rest of Congress should take serious action to end the corporate welfare and then use that money to invest in education and infrastructure."

The campaign is organizing local citizens around the current iteration of the budget debate in Washington.   Earlier this month, Congress passed a long term extension of tax cuts for the middle class and a short term extensions of several other budget deadlines.  As a result, Congress is once again debating the budget and tax priorities of our federal government as they approach another dangerous deadline.

California Fair Share has organized the Put America to Work campaign to push Congress to make job creation a priority in this budget debate, by focusing cuts on corporate tax loopholes that do not support job creation.  Ending the use of offshore tax havens by corporations to avoid paying taxes, could raise $900 billion over ten years.  That additional money could be used to create jobs as well as reducing the national deficit. The message is especially relevant today, as the U.S. Commerce Department announced the fourth quarter of 2012 saw the first negative growth of the U.S. economy since 2009.

"Over 100 students and activists have taken to the phone to tell Representative McClintock: we need jobs, not corporate loopholes.  By closing massive corporate tax loopholes, Representative McClintock can deliver a growing economy and a stronger budget in 2013," said Stelmach.