Xavier Becerra

But the guy that goes after that 101st person and causes them to be audited unfairly, we should descend on them with a hammer so hard, that they become the example for the rest of the industry.

I hope we also do some work, as was based on the questions that were asked earlier by the chairman and the ranking member, on educating the consumers so that they understand what is going on here.

I think that is a good idea, again, to give consumers a chance to understand.

I can't tell you how many Americans have come up to me in the past and said, 'You know how much money I lost...'

Yes. And so, what we want any American taxpayer or any consumer who is watching or listening to this hearing to understand is that not every person who professes to be a preparer of tax returns with the talent and the experience to do it…

I applaud each and every one of those 700,000-plus professionals who have stepped forward and registered, because essentially what they are saying is, 'I am willing to live by this new regime, to make sure that consumers understand that I…

It would be helpful, I think, for consumers to understand what the difference is.

I have many ghost operations in my district, people that are literally going out and grabbing people off the sidewalk and say, 'Hey, do you know I can get you this much money? Sign here.'

As interesting a conversation this is, it is still academic.

There are no two states that have exactly the same sales tax base, and no state has a sales tax base that is anywhere near as comprehensive as the FairTax.

I am not sure how fair this so-called 'FairTax proposal' is. It is converging more on the fairy tale side of fair than real fairness.

Earlier today I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote 630. If present, I would have voted ``nay'' on rollcall vote 630. ____________________

Once again, the public is way ahead of the politicians. By nearly three to one, Americans reject this Republican budget scheme. In fact, nearly 70 percent of Americans disapprove of how Republicans are handling this deficit and default…

Earlier today I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote 599. If present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote 599. Stated against:

I thank the ranking member and the chairman, and I look forward to working with them. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time. Amendment Offered by Mr. Flake

Social Security has never contributed a dime to the nation's $14.3 trillion debt, not a penny to our federal deficit this year, or any year of our nation's history.

We either are going to follow and live up to our obligations and our debts, or we are not.

Most Americans would say it is immoral and un-American for this congress to tax Peter to pay for Paul's sins.

I rise to engage in a colloquy with the chairman and ranking member on recruitment and outreach at the military service academies. Mr. Chairman, some areas in the U.S. have been harder for the military academies to reach for recruitment…

Where you stand on Social Security and where you fall on the ways to strengthen it will speak volumes about your priorities for our country and for the generation that built the America we so love.

Earlier today I was unavoidably detained and missed rollcall vote 479. If present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 479.

I think you talked about how you have to figure out how you broaden the base in a fair way.

China, Japan, and every major corporation in America knows the same thing, and they are waiting to be paid, as well.

I would like to begin, first, by acknowledging something the chairman said, that we are looking at somewhere around 2036 before Social Security will face a situation where it doesn't go broke.

The more we acknowledge that today Social Security is paying benefits on time and in full, and has always done that for more than 75 years, and that it will continue to do so for another good 20-some-odd years, it becomes very important.