[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NO EXCUSE FOR 40-PERCENT TAX RATE ON MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday millions and millions of Americans 
paid their taxes all across this country. Unfortunately, most of them 
found that the Government was taking more and more of their hard-earned 
dollars, and they were keeping less and less to support their families.
  The tax burden on the average American family is outrageous. The 
total tax bill for an average family is almost 40 percent. Most 
Americans will spend more on taxes than they do on food, shelter, 
clothing, health care combined. Think of that; it is unbelievable.
  Yesterday, during debate, one of the participants on the other side 
noted that taxes are what we pay for civilization. Now, I am mystified 
as to where that bit of wisdom was gleaned. There is no excuse for a 
40-percent tax rate on middle-income families. That is not 
civilization; that is something close to tyranny.
  The American people have every right to be upset about high taxes, 
and we have an obligation to try and change tax and spend Washington. 
It is time we give tax relief to the American people, and we ought to 
do it right now.

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