Jim Bunning: “I voice my support for H.R. 1836, the tax relief bill. The American people deserve a tax cut. We have not given them a…”

“I voice my support for H.R. 1836, the tax relief bill. The American people deserve a tax cut. We have not given them a major, across-the-board tax cut since 1981. Twenty years is too long to wait. Americans are overtaxed. Personal tax payments have risen on average by 10.5 percent per year over the last five years, but, personal income has risen by only 5.9 percent per year. The tax burden as a percentage of GDP is the highest it has been since World War Two. This is absolutely ridiculous, especially when you consider our budget surpluses. This money belongs to the people and should be returned to them. If we don't, it's just going to get frittered away here in Washington. President Bush is correct. No American should pay more than a third of their income in Federal taxes. This bill does not take us all the way there, but it is a step in the right direction. This bill will also help eliminate the unfair marriage penalty. We have penalized families for far too long. I have never understood why the Federal government, through the tax code, would penalize people for getting married. We should be encouraging marriage, not creating disincentives for marriage. This bill will provide a deduction up to $3,000 for two-earned families who file jointly. In Kentucky, that is real money. The bill will also help families by doubling the child tax credit. This will be a welcome addition to families and ease their burden just a little bit.”