Bill Pascrell: “You think that the Bush administration and their congressional allies would be in support of this measure. Instead…”

“You think that the Bush administration and their congressional allies would be in support of this measure. Instead, Republicans are hysterically crying because this bill asks private equity managers to pay the same rate in taxes as most folks in this room. Why should the richest of all Americans pay only 15 percent in taxes when a doctor or lawyer pays 35 percent? Why should the kings of Wall Street only pay 15 percent on their contingency fees when most teachers and police officers pay 25 and 30 percent? I have heard repeatedly in this debate that private equity managers are involved in a risky business so they should be rewarded with the lowest tax rates around. But the risk they carry is on other peoples' money, not their own. When you want to talk about risk, how about the firefighter that rushes into a burning building? Are Republican priorities so skewed that they will spend all their time and effort ensuring that financiers pay less in taxes than first responders? No way. It is another day, and another example of prudent, sound, fiscally responsible legislation from the Democratic majority. Unfortunately, it's also another day of cheap rhetoric and skewed facts from the Republican side of the aisle.”