David Thomas: “All of us are pleased to be back, able to go on and finish the business we have yet to do. There is a lot of it, of…”

“All of us are pleased to be back, able to go on and finish the business we have yet to do. There is a lot of it, of course. I have read from time to time that we have been on vacation. I have to tell you, it is scarcely a vacation. All of us spend this time, as we should, traveling in our States and visiting with the people we represent. Frankly, it is a real pleasure and honor to travel about Wyoming this time of year. It is important that we reflect on what we have heard, some of the issues laid before us, some of the notions of the people at home. After all, it is our responsibility to be here to represent those people. There are a number of things we all hear about and hear about repeatedly while we are in our States. One of them is the tax issue, the idea of tax reduction, and specifically the returns that have been made during this period of time. Many people have received their $600 or $300. I heard a great deal about that. I heard a great deal of praise and support for tax relief, having an opportunity to receive those dollars that were deemed to be surplus. They were not dollars that belonged to Washington; they were dollars that belonged to the taxpayers. I heard that quite often. Frankly, I was very pleased to hear that and also to share the belief that the return of tax dollars certainly is appropriate in a time of a slowing-down economy.”