Political Quotes

“2 weeks ago, in a debate on the Senate version of the tax reconciliation bill, I proposed an amendment to provide tax relief for victims of Katrina, paid for by restricting the extension of capital gains and dividend tax cuts only to people with incomes under $100 million. My amendment would have made all children of working parents in the disaster area eligible for at least a partial credit. For the convenience of my colleagues, I agreed not to demand a vote on that amendment. But I rise again to urge my colleagues not to forget Katrina and her victims who continue to struggle. In a bill with $70 billion of tax cuts, surely we can find $274 million to do something for the most vulnerable members of our society. In the weeks after Katrina made landfall, President Bush vowed to do what it takes to help the region recover. We wanted to believe him. We had witnessed the devastation caused by the hurricane, and we saw the terror of poor families with their lives turned upside down, homes destroyed, jobs and businesses lost, families separated, and lives permanently changed. At the time, the President said: We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action. Almost 6 months later, the Government's actions have not matched the President's rhetoric. Evacuees are getting kicked out of their hotel rooms this week because FEMA stopped paying the bill. Thousands of temporary mobile homes ordered by FEMA are sitting empty in nearby Southern States.…”