Sam Gibbons: “National tax freedom day, that day that we start working for ourselves instead of the tax collector, fell on May 4 this…”

“National tax freedom day, that day that we start working for ourselves instead of the tax collector, fell on May 4 this year, and that is the latest date in history according to the tax foundation. Many Nevadans found this to be not only unbelievable, but unconscionable. It is unconscionable that the typical and average American family pays more than 38 percent of its income in taxes. That is more than it spends on food, clothing, and shelter combined. Madam Speaker, over the past 8 years, personal income of Americans has grown by more than $2.8 trillion, yet nearly half of all this new wealth went to pay tax bills. Is it any wonder why Americans feel they are working harder than ever but cannot seem to get ahead? Thankfully, this Congress listened to Nevada families and their pleas for help in paying this crushing tax burden, and soon Nevadans will be getting some much-needed relief in the form of a tax rebate check; and may I say, it is about time. Madam Speaker, Nevadans, and indeed all Americans, should not be working for Washington; Washington should be working for Nevadans and Americans. Mailing out those tax rebate checks is simply the first step in putting working Americans ahead of government bureaucracy.”