Newt Gingrich: “I would say to him, however, that to describe as a Christmas tree a series of things the American people want is…”

“I would say to him, however, that to describe as a Christmas tree a series of things the American people want is different than describing as a Christmas tree things only politicians want. And I do plead guilty to the charge that on a bipartisan basis we tried to reach out and actually listen to the American people, and that some people are very grateful to us for that. Let me start, for example, with the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association wrote us and said: The Alzheimer's Association is writing in general support of the provisions in H.R. 3160 to clarify the Tax Code so that taxpayers may deduct their long-term care expenses as medical expenses. We are particularly pleased to note the committee's addition of specific language to assure that this deduction is available to taxpayers who are incurring expenses for care for persons who are cognitively impaired. They go on to say: This change in the Tax Code has had strong bipartisan support for a number of years and has appeared in virtually every version of health reform legislation seriously considered over the last two Congresses.”