'Fiscal Cliff' Debate Accompanies Obama to Montco

President Obama visits Hatfield toy company as part of tour pushing extension of payroll tax cuts.

President Barack Obama visited a toy factory in Hatfield Township on Friday, citing it as an example of the type of business that would suffer if Congress does not act soon to prevent the country from running over the "fiscal cliff," a series of tax increases and cuts in spending that are due to come into effect at the beginning of the new year.

In remarks broadcast live on C-SPAN, Obama called Hatfield-based K'Nex, which makes kits of interlocking pieces that allow children to construct their own toys, "one of the few companies in the toy industry that has aggressively moved jobs back here [to the U.S. from overseas],"

The President said middle-class consumers will have money "to buy more K'Nex" if Democratic and Republican legislators can "get out of our comfort zones" to reach a compromise that would extend payroll tax cuts. Middle class families will pay an average of $2,200 more in taxes in 2013 if the tax cuts expire, Obama said.

Obama asked that people make sure their "voices are heard" by their local federal legislators.

"I need folks like you, the people here in Hatfield and in Pennsylvania, to get this done," Obama said.

Republicans, meanwhile, said the "massive spending spree" of Obama's "Democrat allies" in Congress was to blame for leading the country towards the "fiscal cliff." A statement sent to the media Friday by the Republican National Committee said Obama's proposal to raise taxes on small businesses and individuals earning more than $250,000 per year would cause the loss of an estimated 30,800 jobs in Pennsylvania.

Locally, a Perkiomen Township business owner served as the standard bearer for the Republican message. Jerry Gorski, owner of Gorski Engineering, starred in a video issued by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

"This notion of $250,000 being the top two percent or the wealthy people in America ignores the way most small businesses work in America," Gorski said in the video.

About a half mile from the site of the President's visit, a group of anti-tax activists staged a protest along the shoulder of Route 309.

The President traveled from Philadelphia International Airport, where he landed shortly after 11:00 a.m., to Hatfield aboard the Marine One helicopter, which minimized the road closures that would have been associated with a traditional motorcade. Security was predictably tight in the vicinity of the K'Nex premises, as a network of law enforcement professionals from across Montgomery County coordinated to strictly control access the landing zone.

patrick December 03, 2012 at 01:12 PM
We have a revenue problem. Raise taxes. You don't want to pay. Then leave, go away. This is a socialist country. You don't want to participate, then go away. Please, your absense will help our gene pool. Republican=stupid
Smedley December 03, 2012 at 03:18 PM
You can stick that "Fiscal Cliff" up your you know what. Another stupid media talking point to shove down our throats. I'm sure our representatives both republican and democrat will be raising the debt a few more trillion while cutting programs for the public. What about cutting all programs across the board a few percent? Why don't they cut some of the trillions they spend on the military every year? Do we really need over 850 military bases around the world? How about cutting some of the premium healthcare they and their families get for life? What about cutting the automatic raises they get every year without voting on it? How about cutting the billions of dollars we give away for free to other countries, some which don't even like us? I have no doubt the republicans and democrats will drive us off a cliff alright. But don't blame me. I didn't vote for them.
Smedley December 03, 2012 at 08:44 PM
Anthony Wayne December 03, 2012 at 09:00 PM
I can offer no better argument for my position than the comments of kurt and patrick. The thought that one side or the other is the problem IS a part of the problem. Both sides are wrong. They wont even talk about real cuts and reform of entitlements. They trim from "baseline" budgets. not real cuts. If you make 50k per year and spend 80k per year, putting the extra 30k on a credit card, how long will you survive? This is exactly what we do in the US. Interest rates are now at historic lows. We earn 2.2t and spend 3.5t. What will happen to our ability to service this debt when the artificlly low rates rise or when our credit rating is bumped down again? How is this responsible governance? How is this common sense? How is this good for the next generation? The drug dealers are in charge of the pharmacy. It's like you live in a parallel universe. Wake up.
Ike December 06, 2012 at 11:31 PM
Yes , 1 , i know who won.Iam a democate , but will be changing to INDY. Both Obamama , AND Mitt THE nit , suck. I was just asking who is the worst President , since most think Carter was. 1 and dont want to lleave the USA. I just want someone who cares about us. Not this ,,, its like who is most love. None of them really care about the USA its looks like. Damn shame.


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