[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 41 (Tuesday, April 4, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MAKING THE TAX CUTS PERMANENT

  (Mr. KELLER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give the American people 
some straight talk on why we need to make the tax cuts permanent. As 
tax day rapidly approaches, President Bush urged Congress to make the 
tax cuts permanent, and with good reason. If Congress does not make the 
tax cuts permanent, a family of four in central Florida making $50,000 
would see their taxes go up by nearly 50 percent.
  It is no accident that we have a strong and vibrant economy today. 
During President Bush's first term, Congress acted to lower income tax 
rates across the board, cut taxes on capital gains and dividends, and 
eliminate the marriage penalty.
  Now, what have we seen as a result? We have seen 5 million new jobs 
created in the last 2\1/2\ years. We have seen an unemployment rate 
that is lower than the average unemployment rate in the 1970s, 1980s, 
and 1990s. We have seen home ownership rise to 69 percent, the largest 
record in history. So don't believe the hype. Our government has 
received more revenue after the tax cuts than we received before the 
tax cuts. Let's make these tax cuts permanent and keep our economy 
strong.

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