Don Nickles: “I want to ask my colleagues to vote no on the Durbin-Bond amendment and tell them I think I have a pretty good record--I…”

“I want to ask my colleagues to vote no on the Durbin-Bond amendment and tell them I think I have a pretty good record--I heard the support of NFIB for deductibility for the self-employed. I used to be self-employed, so I support that. For my colleagues' information, I will be offering an amendment after the Durbin amendment, very soon, that will accelerate and allow self-employed people to deduct a greater percentage for their health insurance at a much faster rate than now is under existing law. It does not go to 100 percent, but likewise we do not increase taxes another 10 cents, which I think a lot of people, not just from tobacco States, are saying 'Wait, we are already increasing it 20 cents, almost doubling the tax, should we do another 10 cents?' I might mention the Finance Committee said we would stop at 20 cents. I do not think the Durbin amendment will become law. I want to let my colleagues know we will offer an amendment that will accelerate deductibility for the self-employed.”