[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6166-6167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      REPUBLICAN ECONOMIC POLICIES

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, with bleak news about the economy 
continuing to mount, it is no surprise that 25 percent of Americans say 
their economic situation has not improved in the last 5 years, and 31 
percent say they have fallen backward. These represent the highest 
numbers for the Pew

[[Page 6167]]

Research Center survey since the question was first asked in 1964.
  Economic uncertainty within the middle class is a result of President 
Bush's economic policies. For 6 years, Republicans have offered tax 
cuts to the wealthy, refused to close corporate tax loopholes, and even 
defended multi-billion dollar tax subsidies for big oil companies.
  House Democrats reject an economic policy that showers billions of 
dollars on unnecessary tax breaks to corporate interests and to 
millionaires, while middle-class families are ignored. This year's 
Democratic budget makes middle class tax relief a priority by calling 
for the extension of middle-income tax cuts, such as the child tax 
credit and marriage penalty relief.
  Democrats have also been working hard to close corporate tax 
loopholes and end costly waste, fraud and abuse. Madam Speaker, 
Democrats are fighting to put the Tax Code back on the side of the 
working family.

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