[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 52 (Monday, April 22, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                            TAX FREEDOM DAY

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
novel approach one business in my State has undertaken to educate the 
public about the high Federal tax burden suffered by working families 
in our country.
  The Lockwood Companies, based in Bingham Farms, are a group of seven 
construction, housing-material procurement, and development services 
firms. In the past 50 years, Lockwood has built more than $1.25 billion 
of housing in Michigan, including affordable and luxury multifamily 
housing, as well as independent living, assisted, and skilled care 
communities. In the previous 2 years, Lockwood has been Michigan's 
leading apartment builder.
  In early 1995, Lockwood management was discussing the high, unfair 
tax burden imposed upon average employees. Someone observed a major 
problem in our country is the general lack of public awareness as to 
how high our tax rates actually have risen. A suggestion was given that 
some sort of creative effort be made to highlight Tax Freedom Day.
  Tax Freedom Day is determined each year by the Tax Foundation, a 
nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy research group based in 
Washington, DC. Tax Freedom Day is estimated to be the day average 
Americans must work to from January 1 just to pay their Federal, State, 
and local taxes for that year.
  To exemplify just how much taxes have risen over the years, I point 
out that in 1944, the year Lockwood was founded, Tax Freedom Day would 
have been March 30. In 1995, Tax Freedom Day was May 7, more than 5 
weeks later.
  To draw attention to this situation, Lockwood management devised the 
idea of an employee strike on Tax Freedom Day, and declared it a paid 
company holiday. Lockwood's protest last year drew significant media 
coverage, both local and national.
  Encouraged by the positive response, Lockwood will again this year 
publicize Tax Freedom Day giving its employees a paid day off. Among 
the other Michigan companies that have been persuaded to join in this 
year's protest and do likewise are Sartech Distribution & Building 
Supply, Jordan Oliver Building Systems, and Schneider & Smith 
Architects.
  In announcing Lockwood's repeat observance of Tax Freedom Day, 
President Rodney Lockwood said his firm has, ``helped start more than 
10 new woman- and minority-owned companies by awarding them contracts, 
supplying funding, or training their workers . . . If the tax situation 
were more favorable, we could help even more companies because we'd 
have more money available for that kind of discretionary spending.''
  Undoubtedly, countless other job providers in Michigan and the rest 
of the country would appreciate tax relief that would allow them to 
assist fledgling small businesses as well.
  The Lockwood Companies' unique manner of protesting high levels of 
taxation deserves to be recognized. Increased awareness of the 
oppressive tax burden on American families can only yield positive 
results. The Lockwood Companies, and those who will strike alongside 
with them this year, are providing an invaluable public education, and 
I commend their efforts.

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