[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 61 (Monday, April 3, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4035-H4036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SUPPORT FOR THE TAX RELIEF ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Norwood] is recognized 
during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Tax Relief 
Act because it is the right thing to do for America. We will put money 
into the hands of hard-working people who need their own money to make 
ends meet. We will provide tax relief for working seniors. But more 
than anything else we will do this week, we will draw a line between 
the two parties. We will make it crystal clear to the American people 
which party fights over big government and big spending and which party 
wants you to have more of your own money.
  Mr. Speaker, that we are doing the right thing for America should be 
obvious--we will pass a $500 tax credit. Families with children earning 
less than $25,000 will have their entire Federal income tax liability 
eliminated by the tax credit. We will lower the burden on married 
couples struggling to get by, by passing a tax credit for married 
couples. We will pass the American dream savings account which will 
allow hard-working families to save money for college, or a home, or 
health care tax free.
  [[Page H4036]] We will raise the earnings cap on seniors to allow 
them to hold a job without facing an outrageous tax bill. Under current 
tax law, a senior who makes over $11,000 will face a marginal tax rate 
of 56 percent, that is more than the tax rate for millionaires. We will 
send the right message to working seniors--that it is good to work at 
any age, unlike the current negative message that says the Federal 
Government will penalize you for working.
  Mr. Speaker, the Tax Relief Act will provide tax incentives for 
people who purchase long-term health care. We will also provide a tax 
credit for people who provide long-term care at home for an elderly 
relative. We will increase saving in this country by encouraging IRA 
investment.
  Simply put, we will provide tax relief for millions of average 
Americans who will greatly benefit from the opportunity to keep more of 
their hard-earned money. And that is what separates us from the 
Democrats.
  Mr. Speaker, the Democrats will argue that we are giving tax breaks 
to the rich. Of course they defined rich. That the Democrats hate the 
rich is a given. We could talk about why for hours, but there is a far 
more troubling aspect to the Democrats argument. Time and time again, 
we hear the Democrats arguing for bigger government and more of your 
money.
  During the unfunded mandates debate, the Democrats argued that the 
Federal Government knew best and the States should follow our orders 
regardless of the cost. During the regulatory reform debate, the 
Democrats argued that Federal regulators needed their dictatorial 
power. When we argued for greater local government control during the 
crime bill debate, the Democrats argued that the faceless bureaucrat 
knows best. And when we took power away from the Federal bureaucrats 
who run the welfare system, the Democrats screamed from the roof tops 
that we were starving children, which could not have been any further 
from the truth.
  Mr. Speaker, this debate over the Tax Relief Act is not about rich or 
poor, it is about control. When we vote for you to have more of your 
money, for you to spend your money on your children or your home or 
your retirement, you control more of your money, and government should 
do less. There will be fewer unfunded mandates, less regulation, less 
control over crime and welfare spending by the Federal Government. Less 
of all the things Democrats hold dear. The Democrats want your money to 
fund big government programs. When we give money back to you, they lose 
control. They want to keep your money. We want you to have more of the 
money you worked hard for, it is just that simple.

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