Pete Stark: “My belief is these two tax provisions, modest as they are, regardless of the underlying bill, are good tax policy and…”

“My belief is these two tax provisions, modest as they are, regardless of the underlying bill, are good tax policy and ought to be considered if for no other reason than that they correct some serious inequities in our Tax Code which have been described by previous speakers. We are very close to a compromise with our friends on the other side of the aisle. Our substitute would eliminate the health savings account issue. But as I said, it is possible to reinstate that in conference, and if the gentleman would like to support our substitute, we could do the patriotic thing, we could provide good tax policy, we could pay for a very good idea, and we could walk out, arm in arm, saying we have helped a few people, we have paid for it, and we have brought patriotism and corporate responsibility to some of our recalcitrant corporate friends who are not doing their share. I would urge that this substitute does no harm to the underlying philosophy of the bill of the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. McCrery). It does add to the coffers of our Nation when it is so desperately needed.”