[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 50 (Thursday, April 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H3586]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUT?

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, millions of Americans are 
asking this week, Mr. President, what happened to our middle-class tax 
cut? Twenty-nine million American families could have enjoyed a $500 
per child tax credit. Three and a half million lower-income American 
families could have had their Federal income tax burden completely 
eliminated because of the $500 per child tax credit. Twenty-three 
million American couples could have received relief from the marriage 
tax penalty through a higher standard deduction. One hundred thousand 
American families could have benefited from a $5,000 credit to assist 
with adoption expenses. Americans that care for an elderly relative in 
their home could have benefited from a $1,000 elder care deduction. If 
Americans paid a tax on capital gains from selling their house or other 
asset, they paid twice as much as you should have.
  Under the Balanced Budget Act, millions of middle-class American 
families could have benefited from these tax cuts, except for one man. 
Mr. Speaker, taxpayers need to remember that President Clinton vetoed 
all of these middle-class tax cuts and a 7-year balanced budget.

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