Barbara Mikulski: “Trade is such an abstract word, but it is another word for jobs. The big question is, how are we going to keep jobs in…”

“Trade is such an abstract word, but it is another word for jobs. The big question is, how are we going to keep jobs in the United States? This, then, takes us to tax policy. Tax policy is more than just simply collecting revenue; tax policy is a statement of our principles. The Tax Code in the United States has, since the New Deal, stood for certain principles: That it should be fair, No. 1, and that the more wealthy you are, you would bear a little heavier responsibility. Part of the principle of fairness and of paying taxes is what is called citizenship. It is called shared responsibility. It is called, how do you make sure the U.S. Government functions to provide national security and domestic opportunity and a safety net for seniors. That is really what it is all about. The Tax Code is the fundamental principle of how you collect revenue, and it is tied with citizenship, both individual citizenship and corporate citizenship. The way we see it is: If you are a good corporate citizen, you ought to stay in this country and keep your jobs here. Right now we have a tax code that rewards just the opposite.”