Republicans: Extend all tax cuts

WASHINGTON, July 28 (UPI) -- Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah called for an extension of all Bush-era tax cuts Saturday in the Republican weekly media message.

Hatch, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, said that "Taxmageddon," the expiration of all cuts passed under President George W. Bush, would hit almost every one in the country, The Hill reported.

"In just over five months, middle-class families, job creators and seniors will get hit with a massive tax hike unless the president and Congress act," Hatch said.

Democrats in the Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would extend most tax cuts, allowing those for people with incomes of more than $250,000 to expire and voted down an across-the-board extension. Republicans in the House are expected to do the opposite.

Hatch said the Democratic plan hurts "job creators" or small business owners. He also said the uncertainty caused by the stalemate is hurting the economy, ABC Radio News reported.

"The uncertainty caused by this tax crisis -- or Taxmageddon -- is contributing to America's lackluster economic recovery," he said. "That's not a Republican talking point; that's based on what job creators across the country are saying."