[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                TAX DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from South Dakota [Mr. Thune] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 1 minute.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, when most folks think about April 15, they 
think about somehow coming up with enough money to fend off the tax 
man. However, if the truth be told, April 15 is really about people 
subjecting themselves to government. In other words, it is about giving 
up your God-given freedom.
  By forking over your hard-earned dollars, you are empowering the 
Government to decide how your money should be spent to help you, 
instead of you deciding how you should spend your own money to help 
yourself.
  I am not suggesting for a moment that you should not pay your taxes. 
You should. Nor am I suggesting that the Government should not collect 
taxes. It should.
  However, Mr. Speaker, I am suggesting that average American families 
should not have to pay 40 percent of their income to the Government. 
That is way too much freedom for any one family to give up. Let us 
reduce taxes on saving and investment. Bring tax relief to families and 
pass the tax limitation amendment.

                          ____________________