[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6385]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          OVER-TAXED CITIZENS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 1999

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, it is time we hear the cries of the 
American taxpayer and offer much needed tax relief to the citizens of 
this country. This week I am especially reminded of the many 
hardworking families in Southern California and across the country who 
foot the bill year after year for Washington's tax and spend mentality.
  Every year, the federal government takes more and more tax dollars 
from America's families. Today the average American family pays more in 
local, state and federal taxes than for food, clothing, shelter and 
transportation combined. In fact, the Census Bureau recently reported 
that the average household pays $9,445 in annual federal income taxes 
alone--twice that paid in 1985. Yet despite a projected surplus of $4.9 
trillion over the next 15 years, taxpayers will pay more than $10 
trillion in taxes to the federal government over the next five years 
and more than $22 trillion over the next ten years!
  Mr. Speaker, while the President fights to raise taxes, my Republican 
colleagues and I are struggling to lower them. I think the choice to 
lower taxes is an obvious one. We must keep hard-earned wages where 
they belong--in the pockets of those who earn them. We must stand up 
for the American taxpayer.

                          ____________________