Andy Harris: “I rise to enthusiastically encourage my colleagues to vote for the rule this evening for the conference report on H.R.…”

“I rise to enthusiastically encourage my colleagues to vote for the rule this evening for the conference report on H.R. 4520. Once again the U.S. House of Representatives has risen to the occasion and placed job creation and tax fairness over simplistic rhetoric. For far too long the Federal Tax Code has permitted the residents of States with income tax to deduct their State burden while discriminating against Florida and other States who choose to rely upon sales tax. I commend Chairman Thomas and the House majority leadership for their leadership in crafting compromise legislation that has attracted significant bipartisan support. H.R. 4520, the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, creates tax fairness for Floridians by allowing individuals, not just corporations, individuals who pay State and local taxes to have that deductibility. This will create jobs in Florida through its repeal of tax rules that have led to escalating European retaliation against U.S. exports and through its inclusion of offsetting tax relief for domestic manufacturers, producers, farmers, and small corporations. The sales tax deductibility will provide a direct economic boost to our consumers, especially middle-income families. In closing, it is not only an issue of fundamental tax fairness; it is also an economic stimulus that will create jobs and improve the lives of 55 million Americans living in State income tax-free States.”