[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 4, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4118]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     BUSINESS AS USUAL IN CONGRESS

  (Ms. LOFGREN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress this January 4 with the 
hope I could change things, but it is business as usual here in 
Congress. Last week on a voice vote the House passed a bill that would 
allow tax deductions for health insurance for the self-employed, 
something I support. But hidden in the conference report, unknown to 
me, was a very special provision that will give tens of millions of 
dollars in tax breaks to one very rich publisher.
  There is an old saying that says to the winner goes the spoils, and 
if that saying is true, then Mr. Rupert Murdock, the Speaker's own 
publisher, made out like a bandit. While the Republican Congress has 
been busy cutting student loans and school lunches, Mr. Murdock's 
friends have been cutting him a sweet deal, to the tune of $63 million.
  But the sweet deals do not end there. If you are a billionaire, then 
this 100 days have been better than the Twelve Days of Christmas. The 
Republican Santa Clauses have been busy giving away tax presents to the 
few dozen wealthiest people in this country. If you have the means to 
leave the country, renounce your citizenship, move to a mansion, you 
can save on U.S. taxes. Must be nice, huh? Only middle-class families 
have been saddled with the bill to pay for these billionaire tax 
breaks.

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