Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the underlying tax bill and in opposition to the Pomeroy amendment that would increase the death tax. It is vital we do not stymie any economic recovery by failing to extend current tax rates. If we fail to enact this legislation, in just two short weeks, taxes will increase on every American. Our country needs real economic growth, which can't happen if Washington doesn't prevent these tax increases on farmers, ranchers, and small businesses. The sooner we can provide certainty to American businesses, the sooner they can get our economy back on track and start hiring again. In particular, I would like to highlight the importance of providing certainty to farmers and ranchers in my district with a lower estate tax rate indexed for inflation. Despite the rhetoric from some, these folks aren't millionaires and billionaires. They want to simply leave their children and grandchildren the land they use to grow and raise food which feeds Americans and others around the world. In the last year, the value of Nebraska farmland has increased by 9 percent, continuing a trend in which this land has doubled in value over the past decade. Without an estate tax exemption indexed for inflation, these farmers and ranchers will be forced to divide or sell their land, threatening the very existence of farming traditions which, in many cases, have been passed on for several generations.…”