[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 20, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H10002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   MIDDLE CLASS AMERICA, TAKE NOTICE

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, at the expense of the taxpayer, Members of 
the House of Representatives were called back to Washington to conclude 
business on a payroll tax extension. The truth of the matter is we 
never even voted on the bill. Why, perish the thought! The bill would 
have probably passed. Who loses? 160 million Americans who won't 
realize a payroll tax extender; 48 million Americans, seniors who won't 
have access to their Medicare health provider; 2.2 million unemployed 
Americans who through no fault of their own lost a job, won't have 
their unemployment insurance extended.
  You know, when it came to providing tax cuts for millionaires and 
billionaires, there were no bells and whistles. There were no pipelines 
attached to the legislation. There were no pay-fors. But when it comes 
to a tax cut for middle class Americans, all kinds of bells and 
whistles are attached, all kinds of demands. This is a facade that is 
seen through clearly. When they had a chance to address this issue, 
they called it ``a gimmick''; it wasn't worth their attention. So don't 
let them fool you. This is just a way to keep moving the goal post and 
not do the right thing. Middle class America, take notice. We regret 
not taking a vote in this House.

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