[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TAX RELIEF EXTENSION RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2005

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the Republican tax 
bill.
  As we approach the end of the year, I wonder `How will this year be 
remembered?' For the deepening quagmire in Iraq? Will we remember 2005 
as a year of hardships? For Katrina, for Rita?
  Certainly this has been a year of great economic difficulties for low 
and middle income families. The poorest residents of the gulf coast 
were most affected by the devastating hurricanes, and the poorest 
Americans have shouldered a disproportionate share of the burden in 
Iraq.
  The Republican tax bill is just another example of the disdain the 
Majority in Congress has for its low and middle income citizens. 
Recently, this Congress cut Food Stamps, student loans, child support 
and Medicaid.
  Now the Administration is rewarding the rich. In the proposed tax 
cuts, over 50% of the Capital Gains and Dividends Rate Cut will benefit 
people who make more than one million dollars. The 55% of American 
households that make less than $40,000 will get a tax break of only $7 
while the households that make more than $1 million will receive an 
average tax break of $32,000.
  I support responsible spending, and balancing the budget, but this 
tax cut and the budget cuts of last month accomplish neither of these 
goals. In fact, these bills will actually increase the deficit by $16 
billion. And at what benefit? So that some of our wealthiest citizens 
can save a few extra dollars?
  President Bush has gone on the offensive. He is touting an improved 
economy by pointing to job statistics from this most recent quarter. 
But the economy is not improving where we need it to. Middle class 
Americans are worse off than they were 4 years ago. The average two-
earner family needs to work more to pay for health care, housing, 
college, and transportation than they did in 2001.
  Middle class families are forced to work more and save less. This 
means less time to spend with family and less money to put away for 
retirement.
  This is not how I want to remember 2005. I don't want to remember 
2005 as a year that the government heaped unnecessary burdens upon 
American families. Stealing from the poor and middle class and giving 
to the rich, while increasing the deficit, is hardly responsible. I 
urge you to vote no on the Republican tax cuts.

                          ____________________