LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,

Mayor echoes President Obama’s call to “not hold middle class hostage”

 City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas, joined by no more than a half dozen other local government leaders, accompanied President Barack Obama in the Roosevelt Room at the White House today as President Obama held a national conference call with elected officials around the country, discussing his strategy to approach the fiscal cliff.  Locally, Mayor Pro Tempore Cindy Liendo Espinoza; Dist. V Cm. Roque Vela, Jr.; and Dist. VII Cm. Jorge Vera participated in on the call.

 “The president is very serious about not holding the middle class hostage,” said Mayor Salinas, stressing how the president’s message really resonated with him.  “He wants to work with Congress and work at reducing the deficit in a balanced approach.  Not at the expense of middle class families and only asking the 2% of the nation’s wealthiest to pay their fair share.”

 Mayor Salinas said President Obama highlighted the impact that the fiscal cliff would have on a family of four making a median income of $65,900.  Their taxes would increase by $2,200. Under the president’s plan, 95% of Americans will not see their taxes increase.

 However, the biggest stats that jumped out at Mayor Salinas were the impact that a fiscal cliff would have specifically on the retail industry and consumer spending in Texas alone.

 Since the recession ended earlier this year, in the last four months the retail industry has grown $14 million across the country; in Texas, it was $1,888,800, about 9% of the overall growth with 34,000 jobs added, which has been a great part of the recovery.  However, by going into the fiscal cliff, the devastating impact of increased taxes on middle class families will impact sales, buying power and could lead to job loss.

 Consumer spending nationwide would drop $200 billion; in Texas, that would be about $15.3 billion, possibly sending the economy back into a recession. 

 “Every local elected official in the room, and I would bet, those on the phone, as well agree with President Obama that a fiscal cliff would have a devastating impact on cities across America” continued Salinas.  “We want to protect our middle class since they are what truly drives our economy.  We encourage all local citizens to contact Congress and let them know that they want Congress to work together to prevent our nation from going into the fiscal cliff.”

 MPT Liendo-Espinoza also echoed the mayor’s comments regarding President Obama’s approach to the fiscal cliff. 

 “I was very happy for the opportunity to listen in on the president’s conference call,” she stated.  “It is important for all citizens to know how the changes in the federal budget could affect the middle class.  We must all unite and urge all federal representatives to protect the middle class and extend the tax cuts for families with incomes under $250,000.” MPT Liendo-Espinoza concluded.