Steny Hoyer: “the Republicans' risky and irresponsible tax schemes have more lives than Freddy Krueger, the marauder in the movie…”

“the Republicans' risky and irresponsible tax schemes have more lives than Freddy Krueger, the marauder in the movie ``Nightmare on Elm Street.'' They died in August, and they are back in February. They just will not die no matter how bad they are. Last year's monster tax machine, a plan that primarily would have benefited the wealthiest Americans, is back to haunt us again this year. The majority has chopped a huge tax bill into smaller bills, and the marriage penalty bill before us is one of those pieces. Well, we are not going to stand by while they threaten the American economy. We are not going to stand by while they strengthen our sacred compact with seniors, Social Security. We are not going to stand by and let them turn Valentine's Day into the Valentine's Day Massacre of America's future. It is clear, the majority did not learn a thing after last year's tax debacle. The American people saw right through the Republicans' $792 billion risky tax scheme. They saw that the top 1 percent of American income earners would have reaped 41 percent, the top 1 percent, 41 percent of the benefits, according to an analysis by Citizens for Tax Justice. That unfairness is one reason why President Clinton vetoed that bill. And that is why, my colleagues, Senator John McCain called it ``a cornucopia of good deals for special interests and a nightmare for common citizens.'' That was John McCain. This is a nightmare the majority apparently wants us to relive today.”