Maurice Hinchey: “the gentleman who was here just a few moments ago mischaracterizes the tax portion of the progressive budget. I think…”

“the gentleman who was here just a few moments ago mischaracterizes the tax portion of the progressive budget. I think that ought to be noted. During the Eisenhower administration, corporations in this country paid about one-third of the taxes that are collected by the Federal Government, under the Republican-run Congress, that number has declined to one-eighth, therefore, all of that tax obligation has been transferred to working Americans. The working Americans that he was complaining about are bearing a higher share of the burden, as a result of the tax policies that are contained within the Republican budget. The progressive budget would create a much fairer system, a system which recognizes that working people ought to get tax relief, and that is what that budget does. Among the other deficiencies in the Republican budget, it fails to recognize the fact that we live in community and community obligations and responsibilities. The progressive budget would help rebuild America by providing a rebuild America infrastructure program which would provide tens of billions of dollars to communities across our country to rebuild schools, highways, bridges, and to fund water supply and sewer treatment facilities, all of which are desperately needed in every community across America. Furthermore, the progressive budget recognizes our responsibility to education. For the first time, it fully funds Head Start.”