[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 109 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         DEMOCRATS CAN BE PROUD

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I am proud of the role the Democrats took 
in this budget deal to guarantee that working families got their fair 
share of the tax cuts. While the Republicans were fighting for Wall 
Street, the capital gains or estate tax breaks, Democrats were fighting 
for Main Street, the education and child tax credits. We wanted to make 
sure that the education and child tax credits went to all working 
Americans, including those with incomes less than $30,000, who the 
Republicans wanted to cut out of the child tax credit.
  Democrats also fought the battle and won to provide health insurance 
to the majority of the Nation's 10 million uninsured children. 
President Clinton wisely insisted on an increase in the tobacco tax to 
provide a larger amount, $24 million to insure kids; and Democrats in 
the House, including our health care task force, pushed to close 
loopholes so the money could not be siphoned away for other purposes 
and would provide an adequate benefit package.
  Madam Speaker, we still have to look at the details before we crow 
too much, but the general outlines of the agreement show that Democrats 
can be proud of their fight to stand up for the interests of working 
families.

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