[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT TAX CUT FOR AMERICAN FAMILIES?

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, when I go back to Cincinnati every weekend, 
I get a chance to talk to a lot of working folks. It's amazing how many 
of them ask me this question: ``Whatever happened to that middle-class 
tax cut my family was supposed to get this year? Didn't President 
Clinton promise us some relief?''
  In fact, during his campaign, Mr. Clinton did indeed promise tax 
relief. Let me quote from his book, ``Putting People First'': ``Middle-
class taxpayers will have a choice between a children's tax credit or a 
significant reduction in their income tax rate.''
  So, whatever happened to that middle-class tax break? Well, somehow, 
our President forgot all about it, and instead, gave the American 
people something else; the largest tax increase in peacetime history 
including a hike in gasoline taxes. The only choice we got was between 
higher gas prices and not driving at all. Then, when the new Republican 
Congress did enact a $500 per child tax credit for working families, 
President Clinton killed it with his veto pen, calling it a tax cut for 
the rich. Mr. President, let's work together to give the American 
people tax relief.

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