06/23/2009
https://congress.gov...
"I commend the gentleman from Staten Island on the importance--on his statement that we should keep the home mortgage deduction."
"If I were starting a new country, I would not have it. I don't think it is ideal tax policy."
"I don't think there are 50 votes to get rid of it."
"But we are in a crisis. The economy is fragile. And we need to be practical."