[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 68 (Tuesday, June 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E884-E885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TELEPHONE EXCISE TAX REPEAL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2000

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, as one of two Members of Congress to oppose 
H.R. 3916, the telephone excise tax bill, I believe there is a need to 
explain the reasons for my vote. I opposed H.R. 3916 because this is 
just another fiscally irresponsible way for the Republicans to reduce 
federal revenues for the vital programs that the working families of 
this country rely on. The leadership of the 106th Congress doesn't care 
if it squanders $20 billion in tax revenues by repealing the telephone 
excise tax because it doesn't care if we have enough money to save 
Social Security and Medicare for future generations. But I do care and 
did not vote to repeal the excise tax.
  I never heard from one constituent asking me to repeal the federal 
excise tax on their phone service because it was a hardship. I did, 
however, hear from Bell Atlantic who will soon raise its phone rates 
and from big companies asking me to lower their phone bill. This bill 
will save the average family $34 per year--no wonder there wasn't a 
clamor from constituents demanding the repeal. I do hear from working 
families who want a better education for their children, and from 
seniors who want a Medicare prescription drug benefit. I also hear from 
families who don't have any health insurance for their children or who 
want a cleaner environment.

[[Page E885]]

  EPA estimates it will cost billions of dollars over the next twenty 
years for municipal wastewater treatment programs. This funding assists 
local governments in the construction of projects to manage municipal 
wastewater. Untreated wastewater ends up in public drinking supplies, 
lakes and rivers. This untreated water is a major source of pollution 
for lakes and rivers and we need to address this problem now.
  Eleven million children are without health insurance. Children are 
the least expensive segment of our population to insure. Even though we 
all recognize this fact, Congress insists on giving another freebie to 
corporate America when we should be enacting my MediKids Health 
Insurance Act.
  The GOP does not have the interest of working families in mind with 
their legislative agenda. I refuse to contribute to their continual 
cause of promoting corporate interests. The U.S. taxpayers have told us 
their priorities, and eliminating the telephone excise tax was not one 
of them. We need these revenues for America's priorities. This bill 
recklessly cuts $20 billion in taxes that could be used for meaningful 
legislation; therefore I oppose H.R. 3916.

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