David Thomas: “Mr. Speaker, apparently it is necessary to repeat once again the House has acted. We are on record to send a check out…”

“Mr. Speaker, apparently it is necessary to repeat once again the House has acted. We are on record to send a check out to these people, not just between now and the next election but every year this decade, every year this decade. Someone may wonder why we are saying that this also should go out to people who make $150,000 a year. That was in the Senate measure that they are asking us to support. Of course, if you read the fine print it turns out it only goes out to families making $150,000 in 2010. So when you combine sending it out to families who make $150,000 in one year, 2010, and you provide $1,000 only between now and the next election, you realize exactly what is going on. What we did in this House was say to those people who we think are entitled to a check should have a check every year for the rest of this decade. And if it is worthy of giving someone $150,000 in 2010, it is worthy to do it this year and every year. After all, $150,000, if you are an elementary school teacher in New York and your husband is a fireman who responded on 9-11, $150,000 is about what they earn. It is not the rich. You will hear repeated over and over again, we built a tax program for the rich. An elementary school teacher in New York City and a fireman in New York City, ask them if they are rich.”