[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H3963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC PLAN IS NOT FAIR

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, what are the tests that an economic 
stimulus package should pass in order for us to conclude that it will 
be successful?
  An economic stimulus plan should be fair, should be fast acting, it 
should be fiscally responsible, like our Democratic plan is. We all 
know the Republican tax plan does not meet any of these criteria. That 
is why they have essentially given up claiming that it is a stimulus 
package.
  No matter how many gimmicks the Republican tax cut plan uses, the one 
thing it cannot hide is the fact that this bill predominantly benefits 
the very wealthy. Like the first Bush tax cut passed in the summer of 
2001, it seems custom designed by and primarily for the benefit of the 
very wealthiest of Americans.
  Today I would like to show how different people fare under the House 
Republican budget proposal. I guess it all boils down to who you are 
and what you do. For example, are you a prize fighter or a firefighter? 
A prize fighter, like Mike Tyson, had reported earnings of $48 million 
last year. He stands to gain well over a $100,000 from the House 
Republican plan. While a firefighter making an average salary of 
roughly $35,000 will save $332 through the Republican tax cut. $100,000 
is the absolute minimum that millionaires will receive from the tax cut 
passed earlier today. Most will receive a lot more.
  How will other people fare under the Republican tax cut? Well, again, 
it depends on who you are. Are you the Terminator or an average 
exterminator? Arnold Schwarzenegger will gain in the hundreds of 
thousands of dollars from this tax cut while the average exterminator 
could save about $452. Yes, it all depends on who you are.
  Are you a Texas Ranger or a forest ranger? This year Alex Rodriguez 
will earn $23 million playing shortstop for the Texas Rangers while the 
typical forest ranger will make a little over $21,000. Alex would scoop 
up way more than a hundred thousand dollars in tax savings. The forest 
ranger, he might pocket a little less than $200.
  Well, are you a recording artist or a tattoo artist? Music artist 
Britney Spears' tax savings compares quite handsomely with tattoo 
artist Rene Mezechenko. Rene's tax cut will be around $300. Britney's 
will be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. It all depends on who 
you are.
  Are you an executive officer or an executive assistant? Jeffrey 
Barbakow, CEO of Tenent Healthcare made $115,600,000 last year, 
according to the New York Times. Pamela Taylor, an executive assistant, 
made $39,000. Pamela's tax cut will be $452.
  You get the picture. Those who need tax relief the most are getting 
the least. Congress should stop pandering to the rich special interests 
and get around to the tasks of putting Americans back to work.
  Now, I have had a little bit of fun with these pairings, but this is 
serious business. I represent a lot of people who hold jobs with titles 
like firefighter, executive assistant, factory worker, store clerk, 
nurse, and teacher. I also represent a lot of people who have recently 
lost their jobs in this turbulent economy. None of these folks are 
calling me on the phone to beg for a dividend tax cut. They are calling 
me to say put Wisconsin back to work. Put America back to work and do 
so in a way that is fair, fast acting, and fiscally responsible. That 
is what the Democratic plan would do.

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