Political Quotes

“simply put, this amendment which I have offered asks that we move toward more equitable tax treatment for the self-employed with respect to the deductibility of their health insurance premiums within this budget process. I believe this issue enjoys wide support among my colleagues in the Senate. I would like to draw my colleagues' attention to a letter which has been sent to the Senate Finance Committee signed by over half of the membership of this body. A total of 53 Senators have urged that there be movement in this legislation toward the equitable treatment for the self-employed with respect to the deductibility of health insurance premiums. Today, I would like to reaffirm our commitment to helping the self-employed afford health insurance and receive parity with their corporate competitors who can already deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums by passing this amendment. Let me say at the outset, the term 'self-employed' is a term of art used in the Tax Code but for those who are following the progress of this debate, they may be interested in the people who fall into the category of the self-employed. Those would include, of course, entrepreneurs, small business people, family farmers and the like. It is the fastest growing segment of the American economy. More and more people are starting businesses. More and more people aspire to own their own businesses. More and more women are getting involved in entrepreneurial endeavors.”