Zoe Lofgren: “I came to Congress this January 4 with the hope I could change things, but it is business as usual here in Congress.…”

“I came to Congress this January 4 with the hope I could change things, but it is business as usual here in Congress. Last week on a voice vote the House passed a bill that would allow tax deductions for health insurance for the self-employed, something I support. But hidden in the conference report, unknown to me, was a very special provision that will give tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks to one very rich publisher. There is an old saying that says to the winner goes the spoils, and if that saying is true, then Mr. Rupert Murdock, the Speaker's own publisher, made out like a bandit. While the Republican Congress has been busy cutting student loans and school lunches, Mr. Murdock's friends have been cutting him a sweet deal, to the tune of $63 million. But the sweet deals do not end there. If you are a billionaire, then this 100 days have been better than the Twelve Days of Christmas. The Republican Santa Clauses have been busy giving away tax presents to the few dozen wealthiest people in this country. If you have the means to leave the country, renounce your citizenship, move to a mansion, you can save on U.S. taxes. Must be nice, huh? Only middle-class families have been saddled with the bill to pay for these billionaire tax breaks.”