James Traficant: “In 1978 Congress killed revenue sharing, $3 billion that returned some taxpayers' dollars back to the cities, counties…”

“In 1978 Congress killed revenue sharing, $3 billion that returned some taxpayers' dollars back to the cities, counties and the States. Members of Congress called it pork. Every 2 years since I have been in Congress, Congress has a new tax bill, and each of these new tax bills, the increases are bigger than the previous. Each tax increase is the biggest in American history. We have given hundreds of billions of dollars of foreign aid since 1985. We have even given Russia $12 billion in foreign aid. Congress will bail out Mexico even though I oppose it. I can see that coming down the pike. I support this bill. It is not enough, but it is a start. Because what Congress has said in the past, 'Yours is not to question why,' to the States and the cities and the counties, 'yours is but to do or die.' Let me tell you what they have done, Congress, they have died. Look at our roads and bridges. Look at our cities. There are 25,000 murdered in America and one million high school graduates who cannot read. Our cities, States and counties have died. They did not have a vote on much of this business. I want to commend the Republican Party for at least bringing the bill out with some openness so that Members of the Democrat side can offer at least amendments. But I will say this: I think it is time to start returning, in addition, some of the tax dollars back to our cities, our counties and our States. I plan to introduce a very unpopular bill.…”