[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H6623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT

  (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, the last speaker and I probably are 
bookends for this Congress. Yesterday and today, 44 million people 
without health insurance in this country; maybe we gave health 
insurance to 2 million children. The other 42 million, we could not 
seem to address that issue, while we can give a $95 billion tax break 
this afternoon.
  Now, in my view, this is payday for people who pay for campaigns. 
There are a few bones for people who have kids and a little bit for 
education, but the long-term effects of this bill are for those people 
who contribute to campaigns.
  The New York Times says the deal's long-term effects has economists 
uneasy because they look at what happens in the long run. I believe 
that we have to deal with the issue of soft money in campaigns when we 
come back in September. The Members of this House have to be prepared 
to sit and deal with that issue if we are going to change the way this 
country's economics go.

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