[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF FLORIDA TAX FREEDOM DAY 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANDER CRENSHAW

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2001

  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, starting today, the average hard-working 
Floridian starts to work for himself and his family.
  Today is Florida's Tax Freedom Day. On average, for the last 128 
days, Floridians have been working to earn the money they need to pay 
their federal, state, and local taxes. In other parts of the country, 
where state and local taxes are higher, Tax Freedom Day still hasn't 
come.
  Mr. Speaker, last week we hit the American average--May 3 was 
National Tax Freedom Day. That means it takes 123 days for the average 
American to earn enough to pay their tax bills. Curiously, it only 
takes 106 days for them to earn enough to pay for their food, shelter, 
and clothing combined, proof of the fact that Americans pay more in 
taxes than for these necessities. In 1992, National Tax Freedom Day was 
nearly a whole month earlier--April 18. The hard-working, American 
taxpayers deserve a break!
  Given the significance of the day, it is perhaps fitting that we are 
considering the budget conference report. That package includes $1.35 
trillion in tax relief for all American taxpayers. With this tax 
relief, they can begin to earn for themselves a little sooner, and to 
plan for their priorities and their needs a little earlier.
  In fact, current forecasts--under the assumption that there are no 
changes in the tax laws--have National Tax Freedom Day in 2011 falling 
on May 10. But, if the Bush tax relief package were passed, that date 
would be pulled back to May 5. In Washington terms, where we throw 
around numbers in the millions, billions, and trillions everyday, five 
days may not seem like much. But, to the family living paycheck to 
paycheck or trying to set aside a little bit in personal savings for 
the future, it means a lot.
  It is in their honor, Mr. Speaker, that I am pleased to support 
efforts to let them keep more of their hard-earned money in their own 
homes, and to support the $1.35 trillion in tax relief in our Fiscal 
Year 2002 budget.

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