[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 120 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICAN FAMILIES NEED MEANINGFUL TAX RELIEF

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, the strength of this country lies in its 
families, not in its bureaucracy back here in Washington, D.C., yet the 
current Federal Tax Code penalizes a husband and wife for jointly 
filing their tax return. It also penalizes seniors over 65 who earn 
more than $15,500 by withholding their Social Security benefits. Also, 
the self-employed can only deduct 45 percent of their health insurance 
premiums, instead of 100 percent, which is the same tax deduction for 
anyone who does not have employer-subsidized health insurance.
  Unfortunately, many of our colleagues on this side of the aisle 
believe that enacting tax cuts would be equivalent to throwing money 
away.
  Mr. Speaker, hard-working families are losing touch with their 
children because they must work two and three jobs just to pay the 
bills. Why should American families have to apologize to Washington 
bureaucrats for keeping some of their hard earned money? Most Americans 
would agree that buying groceries, paying the house mortgage payment, 
taking a family vacation or just saving for their family's future, is 
not throwing money away.
  Let us give American families a meaningful tax break. Let us give 
them the opportunity to use their money on their family.

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