[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   EFFECTS OF ALTERNATIVE MINIMUM TAX

  (Mr. ISRAEL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, one of the greatest financial assaults on 
America's middle class is the alternative minimum tax. Originally, it 
was meant to ensure that several dozen of the richest families in 
America paid their fair share of taxes, but it wasn't indexed for 
inflation, so it's robbing middle class taxpayers, like our union 
members, our cops, firefighters, teachers and nurses. Now, after too 
long, finally a real effort at reform is developing.
  The Ways and Means Committee majority has unveiled a repeal of the 
AMT. Now, it's too early for me to say that I agree with every single 
element of this proposal. I am convening a panel of experts to assess 
it. But I am pleased that finally we are seriously addressing this 
middle-class rip-off. I want to thank Chairman Rangel. I hope to work 
closely with him in achieving real reform and real relief for America's 
working families and middle-class taxpayers.

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