Mike Levin: “I rise today because it is critical that the Record be clear about what happened earlier today on the floor of the…”

“I rise today because it is critical that the Record be clear about what happened earlier today on the floor of the House, and that we learn the right lessons. The bill relating to Armed Forces Tax Fairness was supposed to be before us. The bill originally related exactly to that, tax fairness for those who are in the armed services. But it was decided before we met in committee, the Committee on Ways and Means, apparently by the leadership of that committee, that Members would be allowed to offer provisions totally unrelated to that important bill. A number of those in the majority decided to take that opportunity. No Democrat participated in presenting any special interest or particular interest legislation. So what we saw was a flood of special interest or particular interest proposals totally unrelated to the critical issue of armed services tax fairness. Provisions relating to makers of bows and arrows, those who make fishing tackle boxes, a provision relating to the taxation of people, foreigners who bet on American horse races. What happened? The majority leader earlier said on the floor that the result in the Committee on Ways and Means was a bipartisan one, as I heard his words. That is simply incorrect. We voted, Democrats, against a number of these particular provisions. We had roll calls. Republicans voted aye; Democrats by and large almost unanimously voted no.”