U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following statement regarding the House Republican obstruction of year-end bipartisan, compromise :

“The House Republicans are causing real economic damage again to families across the country.  Thanks to the tea party extremists in the House, middle-class taxes will rise, 147,000 Floridians will lose their unemployment benefits by the middle of February and more than 3 million Florida seniors on Medicare will have their access to doctors jeopardized.

“The U.S. Senate passed a compromise on Saturday by a vote of 89-10. House Republicans pulled the scheduled vote on the bipartisan compromise last night and now will not allow a vote.  It is obvious tea party Republicans never wanted a middle-class tax cut or an extension of benefits for the unemployed, and are willing to harm the economic well-being of our community, seniors, middle-class workers and unemployed.

“The U.S. House should have the opportunity to vote on the bipartisan compromise. I am frustrated, as are so many Floridians, that House Republicans resorted to using obscure procedures to prevent us from even having an opportunity to vote to prevent a tax increase, to aid unemployed workers and protect Medicare.  I am dismayed by the lack of common sense on the Republican side of the House.”