Yesterday, 60 prominent faith leaders released a letter expressing deep opposition to the proposed Republican plan to make deep cuts to important policies like the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit—credits that “help families meet basic needs, reduce poverty, and remove barriers to work.” The religious leaders added that it is “hypocritical for lawmakers who talk about family values to abandon improvements in these effective, family-supporting programs.” The leaders also expressed concern that “some…who oppose extending these improved tax credits are at the same time calling for an extension of Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest few. Favoring the wealthiest 2% over working families is irresponsible public policy that fails a basic moral test.”

Even before Congress met to vote on our nation’s tax policy, we knew where the President and his opponents stood. President Obama believes our tax policies should point toward our values, advance the economic security of American families, and reflect the basic common sense and fairness of the American people. That is why he has cut taxes for the middle and working class, and defended programs like the Child Tax Credit from Republican attacks. Over President Obama’s first term in office, the typical American family has seen their taxes cut by $3,600.

Mitt Romney does not share this view. His plan is to give millionaires and billionaires tax cuts, while leaving middle class families and those who are struggling to fend for themselves. This is not a new approach for Mr. Romney; it is his guiding philosophy. As Governor of Massachusetts, he cut taxes for some of the wealthiest while raising or creating more than 1,000 taxes or fees on hardworking families and small businesses. He even increased the fee on selling sacramental wine by 200%. Working families are not interested in experiments with Romney’s flawed economic theories that failed Massachusetts before, and they fail the test of moral leadership that is required now.

The faith leaders said it well as they concluded their letter:

“…this debate is about more than dry statistics or competing fiscal theories. Ultimately, these choices reflect our values and reveal our priorities as a nation. We urge Members of Congress to put families and workers before ideological agendas that favor the powerful.”