[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 41 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                ON TAXES

  (Mr. SMITH of Michigan asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to say some last words on 
taxes.
  In 1947, the Federal budget represented 12 percent of the total 
economy in the United States. In other words, the Federal budget was 12 
percent of GDP. We have expanded that. As politicians find that they 
are more likely to get elected and reelected if they make a bunch of 
promises to people, we have had too many promises, because what it 
takes to keep those promises is increasing taxes and increasing 
borrowing.
  Though young people today should be up in arms about what Congress is 
doing to their future, everybody should be looking at what they are 
paying in taxes at the local, State and national level.
  Look at payroll deductions. If we did not have automatic deductions 
on paychecks, the people of America would not stand for the kind of 
taxes they are paying to let somebody else decide how to spend their 
money when they could make a much better decision to help their family.

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