[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                            TAX FREEDOM DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Tax Freedom Day, 
which we will celebrate this Sunday, May 10. Tax Freedom Day marks the 
day when American taxpayers have symbolically ``paid off'' their total 
tax burden and may begin working for themselves, not the government.
  The truth is, taxpayers are spending more than one-third of their 
work time paying for wasteful government spending and unnecessary 
bureaucracies. The average American has worked 45 days this year to pay 
personal income taxes, 38 days to pay payroll taxes, 18 days for sales 
and excise taxes, and 12 days for property taxes. Two additional weeks 
are consumed by corporate income taxes not to mention 3 more days spent 
paying miscellaneous taxes. This is totally unacceptable--Americans 
should not have to work 129 days out of the years simply to support the 
government.
  Not only do Americans pay outrageously high taxes, they are being 
taxed for the wrong reasons. Taxpayers should not be penalized for 
getting married, investing their money or saving for the future. These 
taxes are contrary to common sense, and they defy basic American 
values. It is up to us to reform the tax code so that Americans will no 
longer have to send their money to Washington for bureaucracies and 
programs that do not work.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with me in celebration of 
Tax Freedom Day. Let's take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment 
to lower taxes and cut government spending.

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