Denny Rehberg: “I would like to know just exactly what are tax cuts for the rich? I hear it all of the time from critics of tax relief…”

“I would like to know just exactly what are tax cuts for the rich? I hear it all of the time from critics of tax relief, so I looked into it and discovered that if we applied the sweeping logic of the antitax relief crowd, the term ``rich people'' would have to include everyone who makes more than $5,000 a year. It turns out everyone is rich, because I am here to tell Members H.R. 2 is tax relief for everyone. Our bill expands the 10 percent tax bracket beginning this year. Is that a tax cut for the rich? It increases the standard deduction for married couples filing joint returns beginning this year. Are all married couples rich? It provides $1,000 child tax credit beginning this year. Do only rich people have children? In fact, the House Jobs and Growth Tax Act will create an estimated 1.2 million jobs by the end of 2004. That translates into 2,700 jobs for Montanans this year, another 2,500 next year. It will also provide a tax break for small business and boost our struggling economy. So let us get this straight. What they are calling tax cuts for the rich is going to bring us new jobs; relief for the poorest Americans; help for married couples; help for small businesses, the backbone of our economy; an increase in the child credit; and an immediate jump-start to our economy. Call it what you like, it is good for Montana.”