Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule, because hidden deep in this bill is language that indeed will increase income taxes on middle class American families by thousands of dollars a year. {time} 1250 My Republican colleagues claim the bill is not a tax increase on the middle class. They argue that Grover Norquist says it's not a tax increase. They say Democrats have, and I quote, ``decided to dance the Washington two-step,'' claiming this bill contains a new income tax on working families. In hearing all that, I have one simple question: If the Republican plan is not that of a massive, new income tax increase, then why did the Republican majority refuse to allow a vote on the amendment which I offered? My amendment simply said that no section of this bill would take effect if it raised taxes on any American family of four earning less than $110,250 a year. That's all it said. It just makes it clear you can't raise taxes on the middle class. That's all it said. It is a straightforward and simple amendment. If the Republicans actually believed their own rhetoric of cutting taxes, they would have accepted my amendment and allowed a vote on that amendment on the floor. We took Joe Crowley's amendment and accepted it because we believe this bill will not raise taxes on the middle class. That's what my colleagues could have said. The Republicans refuse to allow a vote on my amendment.…”