Political Quotes

“Reclaiming my time, because what the gentleman has done is lay out very clearly where he comes down. He comes down on behalf of the richest three-tenths of 1 percent and the gentleman is not about to let those family farmers in Iowa or North Dakota get the meaningful relief they deserve January 1 of 2003, because they are holding out for the Ken Lays and the multi-bazillionnaires of this world as opposed to taking action now that for Iowa and North Dakota family farmers would virtually make the estate tax go away. When one is a family farmer, we are dealing with assets of less than $6 million per farm couple. And that is why initiating this legislation, H.R. 5008, that is why this legislation is so important. We significantly improve the situation from their tax exposure January 1, $6 million and below, no estate tax under our legislation January 1. Under the majority bill, estates over $2 million will be subject to estate tax. They do nothing about that. They leave this exposure out there until the year 2011 because they have taken the position if they cannot deal with everybody, they will not deal with anybody. They will hold out for the richest three-tenths of 1 percent in this country, rather than move legislation forward that will help family farmers and small business. I think it is a shame because right now, at the end of this session, the Democratic minority is prepared to enter a bill that will make the estate tax for $6 million for couples go away.”