Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011

This vote was on the motion to proceed to consider the Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011, S. 1917.[1] The Middle Class Tax Cut Act would have created jobs by providing payroll tax relief for middle class families and businesses.[2]

Specifically, the Act would have:

• Cut employees and the self-employeds 2012 payroll tax in half, from 6.2% to 3.1%.[3] This cut would have benefitted approximately 160 million workers and put nearly $1,500 into the pockets of the average American family.[4]
• Cut employer-side payroll taxes in half, from 6.2 to 3.1 percent, for the first $5 million of taxable payroll for 2012.[5] Although this cut would have benefitted all businesses, 98% of businesses would have seen their payroll taxes cut in half.[6]
• Eliminated the payroll tax paid by employers on the first $12.5 million of the employers increased taxable payroll for the 4th quarter of 2011 and on the first $50 million in increased payroll for 2012.[7] This cut would have given businesses an added incentive to hire new employees.
• Imposed a 3.25% surtax on modified adjusted gross income in excess of $1 million for single taxpayers and married couples filing jointly.[8] This tax on millionaires would have offset the cost of the bill, thereby enabling Congress to implement the job-creating payroll tax breaks without adding to the national deficit.
• Protected Social Security, by requiring that the Social Security Trust Fund be made whole through transfers from the General Fund.[9]

The motion to proceed did not receive the 3/5 vote required for passage.[10]

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Detailed information about the bill, including full text, floor speeches, sponsors and more

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Legend

= vote to fight poverty = vote against fighting poverty = no vote