[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 160 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL MEDIA SHOW BIAS ON TAXES

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                            HON. LAMAR SMITH

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2010

  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, the national media have framed the 
tax debate from a liberal perspective.
  For example, the media frequently say Republicans favor extending tax 
``cuts,'' which implies lowering tax rates from their current level.
  In fact, Republicans support extending the existing tax rates to 
avoid a $3.9 trillion tax increase on every taxpaying American.
  Furthermore, the media often say that Republicans support tax cuts 
for the rich. However, they rarely mention that the country's top 
earners already pay a disproportionately large share of the nation's 
taxes.
  In fact, the top 1 percent of earners pay a larger share of the 
income tax burden than the bottom 95 percent of earners combined. And 
many of the top 1 percent are small business owners who create jobs and 
stimulate the economy.
  The national media should give Americans the facts on taxes, not tell 
them what to think.

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