Washington D.C. -- Congressman Jeff Fortenberry released the following statement tonight after voting “no” on H.R. 4853, the tax legislation projected to add nearly $858 billion to the national debt over ten years.

“I don’t want to raise taxes on any hardworking American family.  But this 11th hour backroom deal is economic rope-a-dope, hiding from the hard but necessary fight against overspending and debt.

"We can’t avoid the debt fight any longer, and we can’t continue to spend and borrow in hopes of prosperity.  This deal gives some short-term certainty by extending tax rates, but borrows hundreds of billions while doing nothing to address structural indebtedness - which we must understand is the same as taxation.  There is no responsible solution in this bill for lasting economic recovery. We can and must do better for America.”