[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3068]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TAX HIKES FOR WORKING MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, in 2010 the Republicans promised smaller 
government and fewer taxes. They even signed a pledge, a pledge not to 
raise taxes. Yet here we are, 56 days after assuming control of the 
Congress, and Republicans are proposing to do exactly that, tax hikes 
for working middle class Americans.
  Their bill, H.R. 4, would repeal the onerous reporting provisions on 
small businesses, but on the backs of hardworking middle class American 
families. Those watching the debate are probably thinking ``say it 
ain't so, Joe,'' but despite Republicans' claims that it isn't a tax 
increase, it is a tax increase.
  If it isn't, why did the Joint Committee on Taxation say it is? If it 
isn't, why do Republicans block a vote on my amendment that would 
prohibit any section of H.R. 4 from kicking in if it did, indeed, raise 
taxes on middle-class families?
  It took only 56 days to break their pledge. Republicans are raising 
taxes on working people. Say it ain't so, GOP. Say it ain't so.

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