Cantor Previews GOP Summer Schedule

The Hill reports

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) provided Republican lawmakers with a preview of the House’s summer agenda Friday, telling them to expect votes on a trio of trade agreements in July and to gird for a major tax battle with Democrats.

In a lengthy memo, Cantor told lawmakers to “prepare for [a] looming fight” over the expiration of George W. Bush-era tax rates, which Congress in December extended through 2012.

Democrats want to scrap the tax cuts for the wealthy, and while they are not due to expire for a year and a half, Cantor warned that Democrats have already begun an effort to get rid of them.

“Above all else, we should prepare now for the inevitable effort by the president and [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid to raise taxes on small businesses and families next year,” Cantor wrote. “Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats are already attempting to do so — look no further than their alternative budget resolution from April. It is important that we, too, prepare for this looming fight and defend small businesses and job creators from Democrat tax increases.”

The majority leader noted that Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, will hold hearings on his own proposal for a comprehensive tax overhaul, but he did not say whether he expected the House to vote on a package this summer.