DENNIS A. CARDOZA: “I would just like to correct my colleague, the gentleman from Florida, my friend and great colleague on the committee…”

“I would just like to correct my colleague, the gentleman from Florida, my friend and great colleague on the committee, that on page 19 of the committee report issued after the bill was written, I would like to read section G, which reads: ``Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the rules of the House of Representatives, the Ways and Means Committee has determined that the bill as reported contains no congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits within the meaning of that rule.'' Further, Mr. Speaker, the gentleman has mentioned that Mr. McCrery had offered a substitute and that the majority had denied the minority the ability to bring that substitute up. That's correct, for good cause. The substitute was not paid for under the House PAYGO rules, and in fact violated the House PAYGO rules, and so was not deemed appropriate to be brought to the floor. Finally, that same substitute only made these very important tax loophole corrections and changes enabled for 3 years. We believe that this particular provision needs to be permanent in Federal law and that homeowners need to be protected if they lose their homes permanently. So, Mr. Speaker, we did not make Mr. McCrery's substitute in order. And, in fact, it has been the tradition that tax bills come to the floor under closed rules, even when Mr. Dreier and the Republicans were in charge, because of the complexity of tax law.”