Vito Fossella: “Mr. Speaker, like the speakers before, let me indicate that there are 49,174 married couples in Staten Island, Brooklyn…”

“Mr. Speaker, like the speakers before, let me indicate that there are 49,174 married couples in Staten Island, Brooklyn, who will benefit from this marriage penalty relief bill. That is 49,174 families who are going to have more money to spend on their education, on their home, on their cars. Essentially, they will have the freedom to spend that money as they see fit, and not the folks here in Washington. I heard a lot of rhetoric today about the wealthy, the rich. The facts are, under this bill a New York City fire fighter, who is married to a New York City teacher, I do not think they can be characterized as wealthy, they would benefit to the tune of over $1,500 under this bill. Again, that is a fire fighter married to a school teacher. That is the so-called wealthy and the rich who will benefit under this bill. Mr. Speaker, this bill is essentially about righting a wrong and providing freedom to the American people to spend their tax money as they see fit, and for those who want to engage in class warfare I suggest they go back home to Staten Island and all across the country and tell those teachers and fire fighters that they are too wealthy to receive their money back.”