[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       FAMILIES SHOULD HAVE MORE

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, there was a fascinating article on the front 
page of the Washington Post last week. The article is entitled ``Voters 
Feeling Remote From Issues In Capital.'' One person is quoted as 
saying, ``Politics in Washington doesn't seem to affect me directly.''
  Well, Mr. Speaker, many people do not realize it but Washington does 
affect them directly. Political choices made in Washington have a 
direct impact on the amount of taxes they pay. Perhaps people feel that 
regardless of what politicians say, they know that the tax bill will 
keep going up.
  That, in fact, is the way things have been going here in Washington. 
The family tax burden has steadily climbed upwards from 5 percent in 
1950 to 25 percent today. Let me remind my colleagues that is only the 
Federal tax burden. When we add that with hidden taxes, with State and 
local taxes, it goes to over 50 percent.
  Now it is time for a change. It is time for Washington to spend a 
little less so families can have a little more.

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