[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        DEMOCRATS FOR TAX CUTS THAT TARGET MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, we are faced with an historic opportunity. 
For the first time in three decades, we have a Federal surplus with 
which we can save America's twin pillars of retirement security: Social 
Security and Medicare.
  This surplus, and our opportunity to do what is right, is a result of 
Democratic fiscal discipline and sound economic policy. But instead of 
acting in the best interest of America's future, Republicans want to 
use the surplus to give a one-time tax break that benefits mostly the 
wealthy. It is a bad idea.
  Democrats are for tax cuts, tax cuts that are targeted to middle-
class families, not the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans.
  Let me just tell my colleagues that the Republican tax scheme gives 
back the average family less than $100. It gives wealthy families 
earning more than $300,000 a tax break of $20,000. For that kind of 
money, wealthy folks can buy a brand-new car. With $100, middle-class 
families cannot even buy a new set of tires.

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