[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H3334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TAX RELIEF AND REDUCED SPENDING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Sam Johnson, is 
recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman that just spoke 
is quite right, and I think looking at old George Washington over 
there, he would have agreed that defending the country is primary in 
our interest. I think old George would also have agreed that we don't 
need welfare, and we don't need high taxes. In his day, there wasn't 
any income tax.
  I stand here to tell you that a promise we made to the seniors that 
we would give them tax relief by eliminating the 85-percent tax on 
Social Security is in jeopardy. A promise we made to married couples 
that they would get relief from the marriage penalty is in jeopardy. A 
promise we made to give the people the option of using their IRA's to 
buy their first home, send their kids to college or help pay their 
medical bills is in jeopardy. And a promise to families to provide them 
with a $500 per child tax credit is in jeopardy.
  Why? Because some of your Congressmen on both sides of the aisle want 
to lower the income level from $200,000 down to $95,000. It disappoints 
me that we have to have an income gap, but it irritates me that some 
Members want to lower it. Every single American deserves tax relief and 
it is preposterous that even the Members who signed the Contract With 
America are now reneging on the promise they made to the American 
people.
  Believe me, I have heard the arguments. ``Tax cuts are for the rich. 
They will increase the Federal deficit.'' Those are false statements. 
They really are. Those arguments are shortsighted and they have no 
concern for our current tax burden that is placed on every American 
taxpayer.
  Did you know that in 1950, the typical American family with two 
children sent $1 out of every $50 it earned to Washington, DC? Last 
year, just 25 years later, that same family sent $1 out of every 4$ it 
earned to Washington, DC.
  A family with five children making $200,000 a year is not rich. 
Besides, whose money is it, anyway? We are not taking it back from the 
Federal Government. We are giving it back to the people who earned it, 
you the voters, the constituency, the people of America.
  The Government did not work to earn the money but I will bet you for 
sure the Government sure knows how to waste it.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to pose these questions to the American 
people. Are you taxed too heavily? Do you deserve tax relief? Do you 
believe the Government spends too much? Finally, do you believe that 
Republicans should keep our promises?
  I urge each of you to call your representatives and let me know you 
support this bill. Pick up the phone right now and make your 
Congressman accountable. Tax relief combined with spending reductions 
will revive America's strength.


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