Charles Rangel: “Mr. Speaker, the Democrats put together an economic recovery plan to meet the obligation of this Nation, and that is to…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Democrats put together an economic recovery plan to meet the obligation of this Nation, and that is to rebuild, to rebuild where the terrorists attacked, to rebuild our economy that was falling into recession before the attack on September 11. Our goals help those workers and those industries who have been hurt and who face great financial and health care needs. Rebuild confidence that America is strong economically. Stimulate the economy to increase economic activity and employment. We must act in the Nation's interests, not in the interests of any who would opportunistically take advantage of this moment. We must not endanger the long-term economic health of this country. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal headlined, 'Companies could reap big tax refunds from the House bill.' What companies? IBM, Chevron, Enron. In today's Washington Post, the alternative minimum tax which Republicans would repeal was put in place so that profitable companies would have to pay some amount, no matter how clever its tax attorneys might be. This is mainly the use of a current crisis to further an agenda that has little to do with the crisis and long predated it. To my friends, I would say there is no other word for the Republican economic package than greed.”