[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 175 (Tuesday, November 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2391]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3996, TEMPORARY TAX RELIEF ACT OF 
                                  2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 9, 2007

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the Temporary Tax Relief 
Act, a much-needed piece of legislation that will provide relief to 
millions of working families across the country.
  The tax bill before us is a far cry from the irresponsible tax cuts 
my Republican colleagues have supported in the past. While their tax 
plan permitted hundreds of wealthy Americans to construct new wings for 
their summer homes and add new sports cars to their garages, our tax 
plan provides financial relief to millions of working-class Americans. 
The alternative minimum tax was never meant to harm the hard-working 
middle-class families of America, but unfortunately, years of wage 
inflation and economic change have placed an enormous burden on the 
shoulders of these families. While my Republican colleagues have spent 
the past decade providing the wealthiest Americans with new yachts, 
these middle-class families have been crying out for help, a cry that 
this Congress will finally address here today.
  Without this legislation, 23 million working-class families will be 
subjugated to the Alternative Minimum Tax. My colleagues have made a 
proposal that will not only provide relief to these Americans, but will 
do it in a responsible manner. Unlike the reckless tax cuts that were 
brazenly supported by the President, this tax proposal will not burden 
our children and grandchildren with debt. This tax bill is completely 
revenue-neutral.
  I urge my colleagues to stand before the American people and 
demonstrate where this Congress' priorities lie. Are we fighting for a 
handful of wealthy millionaires while the middle-class families 
languish with an incredible tax burden? Or are we with 23 million hard-
working American families across the country, including more than 
61,000 in Michigan's 15th Congressional District? I urge my colleagues 
to support the middle-class families and support this bill.

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