[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10981-10982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1230
HOUSE REPUBLICANS TURN BACKS ON MIDDLE CLASS; ECONOMIC INSECURITY GROWS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

[[Page 10982]]


  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have turned their backs 
on the middle class, and that is one of the main reasons an 
overwhelming majority of Americans want Congress to move in a new 
direction. Our constituents want us to work on behalf of all Americans, 
not just the wealthy few. But for 5 years now the Bush White House and 
Congressional Republicans have showered millionaires with large tax 
breaks while ignoring the economic conditions of the middle class. This 
year, while middle-class families received an average of a $60 tax 
break, America's millionaires received a whopping $65,000 gift from the 
Federal Government. And Washington Republicans call this fair?
  It would be one thing if both the wealthy and middle class were both 
benefiting in today's economy, but again many of our constituents are 
facing uncertain times. Today, wages are stagnant, family debt is on 
the rise, health care benefits have either disappeared or increased 
dramatically, and savings levels have plummeted.
  These are the economic conditions many of our constituents face 
today, but this House Republican majority seems content with the status 
quo; and it is time this House listened to hardworking middle-class 
Americans.

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