[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
               REPUBLICANS HEAR AMERICA'S VOICES ON TAXES

  (Mr. ARMEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ARMEY. Madam Speaker, today is April 15. Millions of Americans 
will finish their day today at around midnight, parked in front of a 
post office someplace, trying to make the final installment on the over 
$200 billion they will spend this year just complying with the Tax 
Code.
  Yes, we have this annual 3\1/2\ months of torment that results in 
$200 billion worth of our money to comply with a Tax Code that extracts 
from us more money than what we spend on food, shelter, clothing and 
transportation combined.
  That means we will, by midnight tonight, have completed spending the 
5.4 billion man-hours this year on complying with the Tax Code, which 
is more time than this Nation will spend in the production of every 
car, truck and van produced in the United States.
  No wonder the American people will go to bed tonight and say, ``Give 
us some relief. We certainly appreciate what you did in 1997 when we 
got an increased tax break for each of our children that shows up in 
this year's Tax Code''. But they will turn their eyes to Washington and 
say, ``Give us more relief. The tax burden is too much.''
  We Republicans will do that again this year. They will appreciate 
that as we get that bill done, cutting taxes perhaps just a little 
more, hoping the President will sign it.
  But even so, if we do that, the American people will say again next 
year, ``Give us more relief. Give us a Tax Code that is fair, flat, 
simple and easily complied with so that I can spend my Saturdays in 
March and April playing with the children rather than fighting with the 
tax man.''
  That day will come, Mr. and Mrs. America. Hang on. We hear your 
voices. We hope they are heard at the White House as well.

                          ____________________