On the recordDecember 20, 2018
I thank Mr. Neal, and I salute his eloquent statement. I hope everybody listens. Usually, legislation has either rhyme or reason, or both. This bill has neither. It is dramatically unreasonable. It adds insult to injury. It would further increase our growing Federal debt, this time by almost $100 billion. Driven by the irresponsible 2017 tax law, our projected annual deficit has already more than doubled since President Trump came into office, more than doubled; mainly to benefit, as Mr. Neal has spelled out so well, the very wealthy. The majority thought the first tax bill of theirs would at least be helpful politically. It turned out, for voters, sour music. It was, as described earlier, hyper-partnership at its worst; no hearings. Nothing like it. So, on this last day of votes this session, and close to my last of thousands and thousands of votes over 36 years, I will proudly vote ``no.''
