Nancy L. Johnson: “we are far more generous to families. We give them the benefits sooner, give them to more families, and we retain it…”

“we are far more generous to families. We give them the benefits sooner, give them to more families, and we retain it longer. I am proud to rise in strong support of the first tax cutting bill in 16 years. Today we adopt tax relief for working, tax-paying families, and powerful incentives for economic growth and job creation. How does this bill help women, children, and fathers? It delivers benefits sooner and provides more generous benefits than the Democrats' alternative. True, it doesn't help nontax-paying working families. That's because they were our first priority. We adopted legislation to wipe out the burden of payroll taxes for those working families. Now we just relieve--modestly--just the income tax burden of those above the tax subsidy level who work and pay taxes. Unfortunately, the Democrats pay for additional benefits for working people who pay no income or payroll taxes by limiting to $300 the credit for tax-paying, working families until 2001. Second, this tax bill increases the maximum deduction for child care costs. And while families over $60,000 will gradually lose half of this benefit that is far less than the Democrats' draconian repeal of the $500 child credit for all families over $60,000. Again the Republican bill provides more generous benefits sooner.”