On the recordJune 12, 2014
Mr. Speaker, this motion to recommit must be pretty powerful with that confab that had to take place on the other side. Now, Mr. Speaker, my friend, Mr. Tiberi--and he is my friend--and I am going to remind all that Mr. Camp did a pretty good job with the draft that he put out. That is not what this is about today. This is about short-circuiting a long tradition in the Ways and Means Committee as to how tax reform ought to be handled. A reminder, again, 1986 was the last time that we spoke of tax reform in an earnest manner. Mr. Tiberi was, indeed, very animated. I understand the point that he is making. The problem is, if you do a piecemeal approach to tax reform, you will never do fundamental tax reform. It is like the temptation of repatriation. If you repatriate those dollars, you will never do tax reform. People will just wait for another tax holiday. That is the weakness of the argument that we just heard. A 2-year extension makes a good deal of sense--let some of this economic morass clear up. Now, Mr. Tiberi was correct when he quoted Jack Lew, an old friend. Economic growth is very weak. The number of people working is the real issue; 200,000 jobs a month won't do it. So why can't we find common purpose and expand the runway in terms of economic growth for all members of the American family? Are you telling me that this austerity package has worked? By the way, Mr. Tiberi's comment when Mr.…





