Roland Gutierrez: “I have listened to some interesting discussion and debate here this afternoon about the justice of the tax system. I…”

“I have listened to some interesting discussion and debate here this afternoon about the justice of the tax system. I even heard one comment from the majority side that suggested that Federal income taxes have risen 25 percent over the last 4 years. I do not know who is doing the Members' taxes on that side of the aisle, but I assure them that it is not 25 percent. As Members of Congress, I think we should be serious about our discussion and our debate and not try to inflate figures or make up figures as we have a debate here. We have each earned the same salary for the last 4 years, or we have reported that same salary for the last 4 years. It has been $133,000. If Members have had the same children and the same home and the same exemptions, I do not see how Members paid 25 percent more in Federal income taxes. I would suggest that they check their accountants, and not blame it on the tax system. It just is not real. It is not happening.”