Asa Hutchinson: “I rise today to address for a few minutes the tax relief package that the Senate passed before the August recess. I had…”

“I rise today to address for a few minutes the tax relief package that the Senate passed before the August recess. I had the opportunity during the August recess to travel much of Arkansas. I was in 27 counties in Arkansas in about a month. So we were very busy. In each one of those counties there were opportunities for people to express their opinions and to talk about issues that were of concern to them. We heard much about the farm crisis. I know the Presiding Officer has been very involved in trying to fashion a farm policy that is going to allow family farmers to survive, be viable, and has been very involved in the ag policy of this country. We have heard a lot of concerns about agriculture. I also heard a lot about the tax package, and there were a lot of questions. I want to take a few minutes today to talk about what I heard and what I shared about the tax relief package that we passed in the Senate and the conference that was agreed upon with the House. I think it is responsible and provides much-needed relief for the American taxpayer. I think that is the first thing we have to realize--how much there is a need for tax relief. People say, well, the economy is booming; we are doing fine; people are fine; no one really wants a tax cut. I think the reality is far different. Under the Clinton administration, taxes have risen to the highest level in peacetime history--almost 21 percent of the gross domestic product.”