Frank Pallone: “I am proud of the role the Democrats took in this budget deal to guarantee that working families got their fair share of…”

“I am proud of the role the Democrats took in this budget deal to guarantee that working families got their fair share of the tax cuts. While the Republicans were fighting for Wall Street, the capital gains or estate tax breaks, Democrats were fighting for Main Street, the education and child tax credits. We wanted to make sure that the education and child tax credits went to all working Americans, including those with incomes less than $30,000, who the Republicans wanted to cut out of the child tax credit. Democrats also fought the battle and won to provide health insurance to the majority of the Nation's 10 million uninsured children. President Clinton wisely insisted on an increase in the tobacco tax to provide a larger amount, $24 million to insure kids; and Democrats in the House, including our health care task force, pushed to close loopholes so the money could not be siphoned away for other purposes and would provide an adequate benefit package. Madam Speaker, we still have to look at the details before we crow too much, but the general outlines of the agreement show that Democrats can be proud of their fight to stand up for the interests of working families.”