The White House Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 28, 2012

WEEKLY ADDRESS: The House of Representatives Must Act on Middle Class Tax Cut Extension
WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, President Obama urged Republicans in the House of Representatives to act on his proposal to protect middle class families and small businesses from being hit with a big tax hike next year. Everyone says they agree that we should extend the tax cuts for the middle class and the Senate already passed the Presidents plan to prevent a typical family from seeing a tax increase of $2,200, but Republicans in Congress are holding these tax cuts hostage until we extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. The President called on Congress to pass the middle class tax extension so that we can continue to grow the economy and create jobs the American people. The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, July 28, 2012. Remarks of President Barack Obama The Weekly Address The White House July 28, 2012 This week, the Senate passed a plan that I proposed a few weeks ago to protect middle class Americans and virtually every small business owner from getting hit with a big tax hike next year a tax hike of $2,200 for the typical family. Now it comes down to this: If 218 Members of the House vote the right way, 98% of American families and 97% of small business owners will have the certainty of knowing that that their income taxes will not go up next year. That certainty means something to a middle class family whos already stretched the budget as far as it can go. It means something to a small business owner whos trying to plan ahead. Thats security at a time when folks could use some.

And heres the thing: everyone in Washington says they agree on this. Everyone says they agree that we should extend the tax cuts for the middle class. When Democrats and Republicans agree on something, it should be pretty easy to get it done. But right now, thats not the case. Instead of doing whats right for middle class families and small business owners, Republicans in Congress are holding these tax cuts hostage until we extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. You see, Republicans in Congress and their nominee for President believe that the best way to create prosperity in America is to let it trickle down from the top. They believe that if our country spends trillions more on tax cuts for the wealthy, well somehow create jobs even if we have to pay for it by gutting things like education and training and by raising middle-class taxes. Theyre wrong. And I know theyre wrong because we already tried it that way for most of the last decade. It didnt work. Were still paying for trillions of dollars in tax cuts that benefitted the wealthiest Americans more than anyone else; tax cuts that didnt lead to the middle class jobs or higher wages we were promised and that helped take us from record surpluses to record deficits. We cant afford more top-down economics. What we need are policies that will grow and strengthen the middle class; that will help create jobs, make education and training more affordable, and encourage businesses to start up and stay right here in the United States. Thats why Ive cut middle-class taxes every year that Ive been President by $3,600 for the typical family. Thats why Ive cut taxes for small businesses eighteen times. And thats why Im calling on 218 Members of the House to do their job and not raise taxes on the middle class. As soon as they pass that bill, Ill sign it right away. And in the meantime, Im going to keep fighting for an economy where were not just putting folks back to work, but making sure that work pays off an economy where every American, no matter who you are, what you look like, or where you come from, can have the confidence that if you work hard, you can get ahead. Thanks, and have a great weekend. ###

[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a START OF]

[ Old English e, earlier se < Indo-European]

[ Old English hs < Germanic]

The White House Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 28, 2012
week [week] noun (plural weeks)

secretary \'se-kr-"ter-, 'se-k-"ter-, in rapid speech also 'sek-"ter-, esp Brit 'se-k(r)-tr\ n, pl -taries [ME secretarie, fr. ML secretarius, confidential employee, secretary, fr. L secretum secret, fr. neut. of secretus] (15c)

1. 7-day period: a period of seven consecutive days 2. calendar week: a period of seven days beginning from a specific day, usually Sunday the middle of the week 3. working week: the days of the week or the time every week during which somebody usually works goes to bed early during the week 4. special week: a week containing a particular holiday or dedicated to a particular cause Easter week

adverb
U.K. one week after particular day: one week after or before a particular day arranged to meet on Thursday week

[ Old English wice < Germanic, "series, succession"]

WEEKLY ADDRESS: The House of Corporation. All Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft rights reserved. Representatives Must Act on Middle Class Tax Cut Extension
[ Old English middel] knock somebody into the middle of next week to hit somebody very hard (informal)

1tax \'taks\ vt [ME, to estimate, assess, tax, fr. AF taxer, fr. ML taxare, fr. L, to feel, estimate, censure, freq. of tangere to touch more at tangent] (14c) 1 : to assess or determine judicially the amount of (costs in a court action) 2 : to levy a tax on 3 obs: to enter (a name) in a list there went out a decreethat all the world should be ~ed Lk 2:1(AV) 4 : charge accuse ~ed him with neglect of duty ; also: censure

[14th century. Via Old French adresser < assumed Vulgar Latin addrictiare "direct to" < Latin directus (see direct)]

1urge \'rj\ vb, urged urging [L urgre to press, push, entreat more at wreak] vt(ca. 1555) 1 : to present, advocate, or demand earnestly or pressingly his conviction was upheld on a theory never urged at histrial Leon Friedman 2 : to undertake the accomplishment of with energy, swiftness, or enthusiasm ~ the attack 3 a : solicit entreat urged him to keep trying b : to serve as a motive or reason for urged by a sense of duty

WASHINGTON, DC In this weeks address, President Obama urged Republicans in the House of Representatives to act on his proposal to protect middle class families and small businesses from being hit with a big tax hike next year.
1family \'fam-l, 'fa-m-\ n, pl -lies [ME familie, fr. L familia household (including servants as well as kin of the householder), fr. famulus servant] (15c) 1 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usu. under one head : household 2 a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock : race

everyone [vvree wn] or everybody [vvree bddee] pronoun

every person: every person, whether of a defined group or in general Everyone is going to come to the office party. This is not just for one area; it will affect everyone around the country.

Microsoft Encarta 2009. 1993-2008 Microsoft Everyone says they agree that we should extend the tax cuts for the middle class andCorporation. All the Senate rights reserved. already passed the Presidents plan to prevent a typical family from seeing a tax increase of $2,200, but Republicans in Congress are holding these tax cuts hostage until we extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. fermata \fer-'m-t\ n [It, lit., stop, fr. fermare to stop, fr. L firmare to make firm] (ca. 1859) : a prolongation at the discretion of the performer of a musical note, chord, or rest beyond its given wealth \'welth also 'weltth\ n [ME welthe, fr. wele weal] time value ; also: the sign denoting such a (13c) prolongation called also hold

1 obs: weal welfare 2 : abundance of valuable material possessions or resources 3 : abundant supply : profusion 4 a : all property that has a money value or an exchangeable value b : all material objects that have economic utility ; esp: the stock of useful goods having economic value in existence at any one time national ~

preside \pri-'zd\ vi, presided presiding [L praesidre to guard, preside over, fr. prae- + sedre to sit more at sit] (1608) 1 : to exercise guidance, direction, or control 2 a : to occupy the place of authority : act as president, chairman, or moderator b : to occupy a position similar to that of a president or chairman [14thoccupy a position of featured instrumental performer usu. used with 3 : to century. Via French < Latin praesident- < present participle of praesidere (see preside)] at presided at the organ presider n

The President called on Congress to pass the middle class tax extension so that we can continue to grow the economy and create jobs the American people.
available \-'v-l-bl\ adj (15c) 1 archaic: having a beneficial effect 2 : valid used of a legal plea or charge 3 : present or ready for immediate use ~ resources 4 : accessible obtainable articles ~ in any drugstore The audio of the address and video of the address will be available online at www.whitehouse.gov at 6:00 a.m. ET, Saturday, July 28, 2012. 5 : qualified or willing to do something or to assume a responsibility ~ candidates 6 : present in such chemical or physical [Pre-12th century. Contraction of Saturn's day, form as translation of to be usable (as dies]plant) ~ nitrogen ~ Latin Saturni by a water availableness n president \'pre-z-dnt, 'prez-dnt, 'pre-z-"dent in rapid speech 'pre-znt\ n [ME, availably (14c) fr. AF, fr. L praesident-, praesidens, fr. prp. of praesidre]\-bl\ adv
[ Old English grwan < Indo-European]

1 : an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly 2 : an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit 3 : the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usu. entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies 4 : the presiding officer of a governmental body

Remarks of President Barack Obama The Weekly Address The White House July 28, 2012

[12th century. Via French < Latin senatus "assembly of elders" < senex "male elder"]

This week, the Senate passed a plan that I proposed a few weeks ago to protect middle class Americans and virtually every small business owner from getting hit with a big tax hike next year a tax hike of $2,200 for the typical family.

family \'fam-l, 'fa-m-\ n, pl -lies [ME familie, fr. L familia household (including servants as well as kin of the householder), fr. famulus servant] (15c) 1 : a group of individuals living under one roof and usu. under one head : household 2 a : a group of persons of common ancestry : clan b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a

[ Old English nu < Indo-European]

Now it comes down to this: If 218 Members of the House vote the right way, 98% of American families and 97% of small business owners will have the certainty of knowing that that their income taxes will not go up next year.
year \'yir\ n [ME yere, fr. OE gar; akin to OHG jr year, Gk hros year, hra season, hour] (bef. 12c) 1 a : the period of about 3651/4 solar days required for one revolution of the earth around the sun b : the time required for the apparent sun to return to an arbitrary fixed or moving reference point in the sky c : the time in which a planet completes a revolution about the sun two Mercury ~s

[13th century. Via French < assumed Vulgar Latin certanus < Latin certus "determined," past participle of cernere "decide"]

That certainty means something to a middle class family whos already stretched the budget as far as it can go. It means something to a small business owner whos trying to plan ahead. Thats security at a time when folks could use some.
1secure \si-'kyr\ adj, securer -est [L securus safe, secure, fr. se without + cura care more at suicide] (ca. 1533) 1 a archaic: unwisely free from fear or distrust : overconfident b : easy in mind : confident c : assured in opinion or expectation : having no doubt 2 a : free from danger b : free from risk of loss c : affording safety a ~ hideaway d : trustworthy dependable a ~ foundation 3 : assured 1 a ~ victory

[ Old English ing "assembly" < Germanic, "time"]

And heres the thing: everyone in Washington says they agree on this. Everyone says they agree that we should extend the tax cuts for the middle class. When Democrats and Republicans agree on something, it should be pretty easy to get it done.

1easy \'-z\ adj, easier -est [ME esy, fr. AF eis, aasi, pp. of eiser, aaisier to ease, fr. a- ad- (fr. L ad-) + eise ease] (13c) 1 a : causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort within ~ reach b : requiring or indicating little effort, thought, or reflection ~ clichs

[ Old English btan "outside, without, except, but" < Germanic]

But right now, thats not the case. Instead of doing whats right for middle class families and small business owners, Republicans in Congress are holding these tax cuts hostage until we extend tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
[13th century. < weal 1] The Wealth of Nations, a philosophical treatise (1776) by Scottish economist and philosopher ADAM SMITH. One of the earliest and most comprehensive analyses of economic systems, it began as a study of the relationship between human nature and social evolution. Smith's congress \'k-grs also -rs, Brit usu assertion that the natural outcome of this evolution is an economy based on open 'k-"gres\ n [L congressus, fr. congredi markets and driven by competition inspired many modern-day laissez-faire capitalist to come together, fr. com- + gradi to go philosophies. more at grade] (1528) 1 a : the act or action of coming together and meeting b : coitus 2 : a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usu. action on some question 3 : the supreme legislative body of a You see, Republicans in Congress and their nominee for President believe that the best way to nation and create prosperity in America is to let it trickle down from the top. They believe that if our esp. of a republic

country spends trillions more on tax cuts for the wealthy, well somehow create jobs even if we have to pay for it by gutting things like education and training and by raising middle-class taxes.
1wrong \'r\ n [ME, fr. OE wrang, fr. *wrang, adj., wrong] (bef. 12c) 1 a : an injurious, unfair, or unjust act : action or conduct inflicting harm without due provocation or just cause b : a violation or invasion of the legal rights of another ; esp: tort 2 : something wrong, immoral, or unethical ; esp: principles, practices, or conduct contrary to justice, goodness, equity, or law 3 : the state, position, or fact of being or doing wrong: as a : the state of being mistaken or incorrect b : the state of being guilty injustice
[15th century. < Latin educat-, past participle of educare "bring up, rear," related to educere "lead out" < ducere "lead"]

Theyre wrong. And I know theyre wrong because we already tried it that way for most of the last decade. It didnt work. Were still paying for trillions of dollars in tax cuts that benefitted the wealthiest Americans more than anyone else; tax cuts that didnt lead to the middle class jobs or higher wages we were promised and that helped take us from record surpluses to record deficits.
[14th century. Via Anglo-Norman < medieval Latin superplus, literally "more beyond" < Latin plus "more"]

We cant afford more top-down economics. What we need are policies that will grow and strengthen the middle class; that will help create jobs, make education and training more affordable, and encourage businesses to start up and stay right here in the United States.

afford \-'frd\ vt [ME aforthen, fr. OE geforthian to carry out, fr. ge-, perfective prefix + forthian to carry out, fr. forth more at co-, forth] (14c) 1 a : to manage to bear without serious detriment you can't ~ to neglect your health b : to be able to bear the cost of can't ~ to be out of work long able to ~ a new car 2 : to make available, give forth, or provide naturally or inevitably the sun ~s warmth to the earth the roof ~ed a fine view give

nited States \y-'n-td-, esp Southern 'y-"\ n pl but sing or pl in constr (1617) : a federation of states esp. when forming a nation in a usu. specified territory advocating a United States of Europe

[14th century. Via French < Latin praesident- < present participle of praesidere (see preside)]

Thats why Ive cut middle-class taxes every year that Ive been President by $3,600 for the typical family. Thats why Ive cut taxes for small businesses eighteen times. And thats why Im calling on 218 Members of the House to do their job and not raise taxes on the middle class.
1raise \'rz\ vb, raised raising [ME reisen, raisen, fr. ON reisa more at rear] vt(13c) 1 : to cause or help to rise to a standing position 2 a : awaken arouse b : to stir up : incite ~ a rebellion c : to flush (game) from cover d : to recall from or as if from death 3 a : to set upright by lifting or building ~ a monument b : to lift up ~ your hand ~ sunken treasure c : to place higher in rank or dignity : elevate d : heighten invigorate ~ the spirits e : to end or suspend the operation or validity of ~ a siege

[13th century. < French passer < Latin passus "step"]

As soon as they pass that bill, Ill sign it right away. And in the meantime, Im going to keep fighting for an economy where were not just putting folks back to work, but making sure that work pays off an economy where every American, no matter who you are, what you look like, or where you come from, can have the confidence that if you work hard, you can get ahead.
thanks [thangks] interjection
used to express gratitude: used to express gratitude to somebody Goodbye, and thanks!

plural noun
1. expression of gratitude: an expression of gratitude for something Many thanks for your help yesterday. 2. gratitude for something: gratitude or appreciation for something

Thanks, and have a great weekend. ###

1confidence \'kn-f-dn(t)s, -"den(t)s\ n (14c) 1 a : a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances had perfect ~ in her ability to succeed met the risk with brash ~ b : faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way have ~ in a leader 2 : the quality or state of being certain : certitude they had every ~ of success

no thanks to somebody or something despite somebody or something or without somebody's assistance thanks a lot used to express great gratitude (informal) (sometimes used ironically)

[PRESIDENTIAL WEEKLY ADDRESS ASSESSMENT PHASE A.a END OF]