On the recordMay 4, 2011
I thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation. Gas prices are approaching $5 a gallon, millions of Americans are looking for work, and we're busy turning the Tax Code into a moral club. Forget that abortion is a legal procedure. Forget the Republicans want limited government when it comes to protecting you in the workplace but Big Government when it comes to regulating your bedroom. This isn't about anyone's position on abortion. Roe v. Wade was decided 38 years ago. It's the law of the land. This is about whether we should use the Tax Code as a moral club to impose the religious beliefs of a few Members of Congress on the entire Nation. What's next? Some find it immoral to drink alcohol or gamble. Should we outlaw business deductions for meals that include wine? How about business conventions in Las Vegas? Many people are morally opposed to profanity. Maybe we should make it against the law to swear when filling out your taxes. Now, how about more serious issues? Many of my constituents think the war in Iraq is immoral. The same goes for subsidies for Big Oil and tax breaks that reward corporations for shipping our jobs overseas. Singling out abortion is wrong. Even worse, it's a distraction from the serious challenges our Nation faces. If Republicans want to overturn Roe v. Wade, they should draft a bill and give it their best shot; but don't use the Tax Code as a bludgeon because you don't have the votes.
