Political Quotes

“I would first like to ask my colleagues a question of any of my Republican colleagues. They say we have to do this by Monday. It is one of the most important economic issues we have. If today we were to offer you--certainly I would; I cannot speak for every one of my colleagues--we will keep the tax rates the same for everyone whose income is below $1 million and have them go up to what they were in the Clinton years for people $1 million or higher, how is that for a compromise? Would you accept it? Well, I would ask any of my colleagues to come on the floor and tell us why they would or would not accept it. We all know there was greater prosperity in the Clinton years than there was during the Bush years. We all know there was less of a deficit--in fact, a surplus at the end of the Clinton years--and a huge deficit in the Bush years. We also all know just about every economist tells us that tax cuts, taxes for millionaires, do not create jobs. This is not capital gains. This is not an investment tax credit. This is personal income of millionaires and billionaires. It is one of the least effective ways to create jobs. So, again, I would ask my colleagues, are you willing to accept that compromise? I am. I would like the Record to show no Republican colleague has accepted that compromise.”