[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS ARE ASKING: WHO IS ON MY SIDE?

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, as this body begins to implement the 
balanced budget agreement, working middle-class Americans are asking 
themselves one simple question: Who is on my side?
  The Republicans' tax proposal makes clear who their party is looking 
out for: big business and the wealthy; for under the Republican bill 
over half the tax benefits go to the top 5 percent of Americans, those 
making over $250,000 a year.
  In addition, they are giving $22 million in new tax breaks to big 
business by phasing out the alternative minimum tax, which was supposed 
to ensure that even big corporations pay some taxes every year, the way 
hardworking middle Americans pay their taxes every year. But Mr. 
Speaker, this is wrong for these corporations to be able to limit their 
tax obligation. We need to provide tax relief to those families who 
really can use it, hardworking middle-class American families.
  The Democrats have proposed a tax cut package whose benefits are 
targeted to these families, families struggling to make ends meet, to 
put food on the table, with enough left over to pay for health care for 
their kids. We are on your side.

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