Villaraigosa Backs Tax Cut, Unemployment Benefits Agreement

Los Angeles - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced his support for the agreement between President Barack Obama and Republican congressional leaders extending tax cuts and unemployment benefits.

"I would like to commend President Barack Obama for his unwavering commitment to working families and those hardest hit by the recession and his refusal to sin onto any tax cut agreement that didn't extend employment insurance or give additional tax cuts to small business," Villaraigosa said.

"The president's decision to build this bipartisan compromise will give relief for another 13 months to the hundreds of thousands of unemployed Angelenos and will be another crucial step forward on our city's road to economic recovery."

Villaraigosa's statement on behalf of the agreement was among 18 released today by the White House from various senators, representatives, governors and mayors, mainly Democrats.

An example of the opposition of the agreement by some Democrats was illustrated by an e-mail California Democratic Party Chair John Burton sent to party supporters, with "Capitulation" as the subject.

"While some might call it a `deal' or `compromise,' I would call capitulation to the Republicans," the e-mail begins. "Just as we do not negotiate with international terrorists, we must stand up to the political terrorism of the Republicans in the United States Senate."

The e-mail asks recipients to contact outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., "to thank them for speaking out against this issue and having the Democratic Party stand for something."