[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 58 (Thursday, May 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY

  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, Penny Stellmacher made $25,000 a year 
working for a cable company. Penny got married in 1984.
  Mr. Speaker, check this out: Penny started filing joint tax returns 
with her husband. Penny never failed to file, she always paid her taxes 
with her husband, and suddenly one day the IRS came in, seized her 
assets, went to the bank, took their bank account, took their paychecks 
because they said Penny owed $100,000.
  Mr. Speaker, the IRS never thought to check that maybe she got 
married. The IRS says, ``Penny, you're guilty. Now, you prove to us you 
paid your taxes. You owe $100,000.''
  Unbelievable, Congress. H.R. 3261, Discharge Petition No. 12, says it 
right straightforward: In America you are innocent until you are proven 
guilty and if it is good enough for the serial killer, Son of Sam, it 
is good enough for Penny Stellmacher and mom and dad.
  Think about it. Discharge Petition No. 12. You are innocent until 
proven guilty. When did we get the Gestapo over here, folks?

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