Political Quotes

“I listened to my friend from Pennsylvania talking about bipartisan opportunities, things we agree on. You know, the railroad tax credit is something that we could have done in a heartbeat, but unfortunately, it is wrapped into a really embarrassing piece of legislation, which is a fitting symbol to the wrap-up of 8 years of Republican rule of the House Ways and Means Committee. We are in the process of again making the Tax Code more complex, which they have done every year they have been in control: talk about tax simplification, make it more complex. Those complexities were for people who actually needed it the least. We have lavished massive tax cuts on the most well-off in this country and done nothing to reduce the growing income inequality. They have assaulted the Affordable Care Act and actually put it at risk. I hear about the improvement of IRS customer service. For 8 years, they have assaulted the IRS in their war against taxes, and they have used taxpayers as the hostages. Employees there haven't had the resources to be able to deal meaningfully with the ever-increasing Tax Code to help taxpayers with their premiums. They have had no time to listen to the American public. You have seen major tax bills after major tax bills with no public hearings, no expert witnesses, no opportunity to really try that bipartisanship. Mr. Speaker, I reflect now on our friend Paul Ryan, who is leaving office, and what a sad note to end on.…”