[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 169 (Saturday, December 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2195-E2196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TAX RELIEF, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE REAUTHORIZATION, AND JOB CREATION 
                              ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 16, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4853) to 
     amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding 
     and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust 
     Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend 
     authorizations for airport improvement program, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chair, although I support extending 
lower taxes for the working and middle class and reauthorizing 
unemployment benefits, I voted against the Tax Relief, Unemployment 
Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853) 
because it pays too high a price in terms of tax cuts for the rich. The 
disconnect between the needs of the country and the wealth of a few was 
just too much for me to bear.
  As the economy recovers, I think it is important to make sure that 
the working people of America keep as much of their hard-earned dollars 
as possible. For that reason, I am very happy that this bill extended 
tax cuts targeted for the middle and working class. The bill helps 
families make ends meet and provides a tremendous boost to our economy.
  Similarly, reauthorizing unemployment benefits provides stability and 
certainty for those hardest hit by the recession. Moreover, the 
unemployed will spend their benefits, which spread throughout their 
communities and help the entire economy. Low-income tax credits, 
refundable child tax credits, and college tuition credits in this bill 
all have the same effect. They invest in our people and stimulate the 
economy.
  Unfortunately, the tax policies forced on us by Republicans will have 
the opposite effect. We have been there before. I vividly remember when 
the Bush administration slammed huge tax cuts through Congress. They 
promised the economy would grow and deficits would never appear. Of 
course, the opposite occurred. The working and middle class earned 
less, the wealthy took home more and the deficit exploded, erasing the 
surplus created under President Clinton.

[[Page E2196]]

  I categorically oppose a return to Republican tax policies that 
benefit only the rich at the expense of the Nation. The elections told 
us that Americans are tired of giveaways to Wall Street and CEOs. But 
that is exactly what these tax cuts represent. Under the bill passed 
last night, 40,000 of the wealthiest families in America will save $25 
billion on estate taxes compared to current law. Couples earning over 
$250,000 keep an extra $116 billion over two years. Each billion equals 
one thousand millions. Just think of all the deficit reduction and 
extended unemployment benefits that could pay for.
  When we are leaving millions of unemployed people empty handed a week 
before Christmas, it is outrageous to push our country further into 
debt just to give unnecessary tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. I 
simply could not support such a stark contrast in our priorities.

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