[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 5, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REPEAL THE ONEROUS TAX INCREASE ON SENIOR CITIZENS' INCOMES
(Mr. COX of California asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I hope it is not considered
pandering to the American people, as the previous speaker suggested, to
permit our senior citizens who are receiving Social Security benefits
to keep something of what they earn.
In 1993, in the context of the largest tax increase in American
history, President and the then Democrat Congress imposed a 70-percent
income tax rate increase on senior citizens who work. An important part
of the bill that we are now bringing to the floor is going to roll that
back.
It was criticized as a tax increase on seniors who are rich, on rich
retirees, on rich Social Security beneficiaries. In fact, the 70-
percent income tax rate increase on Social Security benefits started
for senior citizens who work and who make as little as $30,000 a year.
They are not, in my book, the rich. I do not think they are anywhere
else in America. I hope all of us will take this opportunity to repeal
that onerous tax increase.
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