Political Quotes

“Mr. President, tomorrow is Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day--a day, as we approach the tax season, for getting the word out about this tax credit that is a lifeline for working families. The EITC provides an incentive to work. It puts thousands of dollars back into the pockets of low-wage and moderate-wage workers every year. President Reagan called it ``the best anti-poverty measure to come out of Congress.'' The work that Senator Reed and others and I did on the earned-income tax credit this year to permanently expand it was called by some organizations the most important anti-poverty initiative, except for the Affordable Care Act, in the last 20 years that Congress has done. Last year 27 million American households--950,000 households just in my State alone, in Ohio--claimed the EITC and received an average refund of $2,400. So for somebody making $15,000 or $20,000 or $30,000 a year, when they file their taxes in February or March, they literally can get a check from the Federal Government, on average--I am not promising everybody specific amounts because each situation is different--on average, they will get a check for $2,400. One of the best things this body did last year was to permanently expand the earned-income tax credit, but there is still more we need to do. There is one glaring hole in the program we need to fix. Under current law--back up a little bit. The earned-income tax credit was aimed primarily at families with children but not entirely.…”