Political Quotes

“I regret that I must rise in opposition to the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010. Today's legislation is fiscally irresponsible and recklessly extends Bush era tax cuts for the rich, the millionaires and billionaires, and establishes an extremely low estate tax rate. However, I am supportive of efforts to extend unemployment benefits. To add insult to injury, this bill includes not one, but two bailouts for the ultra wealthy. In addition to extending income tax cuts for the rich, this bill reduces the estate tax from 55 percent to 35 percent next year. This second bailout will give a gigantic tax giveaway to a few thousand of the richest families in the country and add hundreds of billions to the national debt. I was also dismayed an increase to the debt ceiling was not included in today's proposal. Congress will have to vote to increase the debt ceiling next year. Many in this body would like to hold the debt ceiling vote hostage and demand massive spending cuts and or make the Bush tax cuts permanent in exchange for their votes. We need to show the American people that tax cuts for the wealthy are not free and that they add huge amounts to the national debt. Just a few weeks ago, this chamber voted separately to extend both middle class tax cuts and unemployment benefits to those who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.…”