PICKENS COUNTY—South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan (R, Laurens) voted “no” on a last minute fiscal cliff bill that prevented tax increases for the vast majority of Americans.

The 3rd Congressional District Congressman, who represents Pickens and Anderson counties, said his vote was a result of the bill’s failure to address spending.

“I voted ‘no’ on the Senate ‘compromise’ on the fiscal cliff (Tuesday night),” Duncan said. “Instead of making our country more secure, this compromise places our country on even shakier fiscal ground by completely ignoring why we’re $16 trillion in debt. Not only does this bill fail to address spending, but it potentially undoes the spending cuts adopted as part of the debt ceiling compromise from 2011.”

Duncan said national debt is getting out of control, and becoming a burden on the American people.

“Without drastic spending reductions and efforts to address our growing debt burden, there is a real likelihood that we could experience European-style defaults and inflation in the future,” Duncan said. “I cannot, and will not, in good conscious, support these redistribution, Occupy Wall Street style proposals that have been put forth by the Administration and the Senate. We must include spending reductions and real reform efforts if we are going to begin securing a brighter future for our children.”

Duncan said the federal government is becoming too involved in issues that should belong to the states.

“We can look at the federal government’s role in a lot of things that were historical state functions,” Duncan said. “You’ve got the federal government involved with the department of education and the department of energy and some other things that we could roll back the federal government’s role in and dissolve (those) back to the states. There needs to be an honest debate about with the American people about what we’re spending our tax dollars.”

“I am glad that President Obama and the Democrats have finally come to the realization that the Republican principle of lower taxes is the right thing for Americans,” Duncan continued. “However, it’s unfortunate that they still embrace the politics which are dividing Americans further - those of class envy and redistribution.”

The bill does keep the country from going over the “fiscal cliff,” which would have raised tax rates. Duncan said it does not, however, address the full problem.

“I’m thankful a majority of Americans will be able to keep a lower tax rate, but incredibly disappointed that Washington continues to be weak-kneed when it comes to enforcing common sense fiscal responsibility,” Duncan said. “I voted ‘no’ on this bill because I will not be fooled into believing that Washington intends to use tax increases to pay down the debt. It is a betrayal of our oaths of office to continue to ignore runaway spending.”

“Our government spends too much. That is the bottom line,” he said.