Paul Coverdell: “President Clinton, as a candidate, told the American people that once in office, he would lower taxes--lower taxes--on…”

“President Clinton, as a candidate, told the American people that once in office, he would lower taxes--lower taxes--on the American middle class. Three years later, as we stand here, the cost to the typical family has risen in higher taxes and lower earnings under President Clinton's administration by $2,600 per family. It was President Clinton who said, ``I oppose Federal excise gas taxes.'' That is in his ``Putting People First,'' Clinton's 1992 campaign book. Here is another quote from President Clinton: ``It sticks it to the lower income and middle-income retired people in the country, and it's wrong.'' That is candidate Bill Clinton on Paul Tsongas' proposal for a gas tax increase. Today, as we all know, President Clinton proposed and forced and enacted by a 1-vote margin in the Senate a new gas tax which adds 4.3 cents on every gallon of gasoline. I believe most of us remember that when we were debating that tax, for which no one on this side of the aisle voted, we were told that the tax increase would only apply to the wealthy. I am sure that everybody who pulls up at that gas pump once or twice a week and sees that little ticker going off at 4.3 cents per gallon probably does not consider themselves among the wealthy. In fact, the lower income population of our country dedicates 7 percent of their wages to the purchase of gasoline. So it is an inordinate burden on middle- and lower income Americans.”