[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H4616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Millender-McDonald] is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to address one of 
the most important votes we will cast in the 105th Congress, and that 
is the tax cut bill. I strongly oppose the Taxpayer Relief Act which we 
will vote on tomorrow. I do so not because I am opposed to tax cuts. As 
a former chairwoman of revenue and taxation in the California State 
legislature, I am for tax cuts. But I am opposed to this relief bill 
which is not fair.
  As the charts behind me demonstrate, the bulk of the tax relief is 
offered for the wealthiest taxpayers while the low and middle income 
taxpayers, the ones who live in California's 37th Congressional 
District, the district I represent, receive only nominal relief.
  Mr. Speaker, 56 percent of the Republican tax cut plan will go to the 
wealthiest 5 percent of Americans, Americans who earn well over 
$200,000. Under the Republican plan, taxpayers who earn $26,900 to 
$44,500 will receive only 17.3 percent of the tax cuts. Moreover, for 
the lowest income earners, those who earn $6,600 to $15,900, the 
Republican tax cut plan amounts to what is in effect a tax hike.
  This is not tax relief, but rather a tax ripoff for millions of hard-
working middle class and lower income earning citizens. To provide such 
a tremendous tax cut to the wealthiest citizens of this country and at 
the same time increase taxes on American citizens who are earning the 
lowest income and are in the most need of a tax relief does not make 
any sense.
  The Republican tax bill further denies the $500 child tax credit to 
20 million working families who receive the earned income tax credit. 
This plan does not value their hard work even though their earnings 
place them at or barely above the rate of poverty, and this is earned 
income. They deserve the child tax credit as much as any other working 
family.
  The Democratic alternative tax cut plan is the only real tax cut 
plan. It ensures that all Americans who receive tax relief receive tax 
relief and not just the wealthiest. Those middle class hard-working 
American citizens who need a tax cut, those who earn $26,900 to $44,500 
will receive 58.4 percent of the tax relief under the Democratic plan. 
In effect the Democratic alternative shifts the bulk of the tax relief 
from the top 5 percent to the middle 40 percent of all American 
taxpayers.
  The Democratic alternative tax cut plan also provides an estimated 
$37 billion in education tax credits, which is almost twice what is 
offered in the Republican plan. It includes $5.7 billion in homeowner 
tax credits and important tax relief for small businesses, farmers, and 
for families with children.
  I do urge my colleagues to think about the American people we were 
elected to serve, to think about the millions of hard-working parents, 
trying to provide more than the basic needs of food, shelter and 
clothing for their children, but also a quality education, a healthy 
and safe environment to grow up in, and most important of all, Mr. 
Speaker, a quality future.
  We must represent the American people and vote for a real tax cut 
plan that will help all American families.

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