Akin, Blunt, Graves, Emerson and Luetkemeyer Vote Against Tax Cuts For 97% of Americans and Small Businesses

Missouri's entire GOP delegation voted against extending the majority of the Bush-era tax cuts for middle- and low-income Americans today, refusing to support those cuts unless the wealthiest of Americans also received a budget-busting and only-somewhat-stimulative extension.  Here's a summary of what the Republicans opposed:

For all families making less than $250,000 a year, the bill permanently extends the 2001/2003 tax cuts, including current tax rates, marriage penalty relief (including EITC), capital gains and dividends rates, and $1,000 child tax credit (for earnings above $3,000). The bill also protects more than 25 million taxpayers from the alternative minimum tax by extending the AMT patch through 2011 and permanently extends small business expensing.

According to the Speaker's office, a "typical middle-class family" will save about $1,000 per year with the tax cut extensions. 

The extension passed on a mostly partisan 234-188 vote. Reps. Russ Carnahan, Lacy Clay, Emanuel Cleaver and Ike Skelton all voted for the legislation.