Political Quotes

“the inclusion of the extension of unemployment compensation benefits in this bill, of course, is the core, and it is a pretty good outcome for our unemployed. I would have added one feature to it which I presented to the Committee on Rules but learned that it was premature to do so but which would have lifted an additional burden from the backs of our unemployed, namely a proposition that I have offered to eliminate income taxes on the receipt of unemployment compensation benefits. My proposition would make it retroactive to January, 2001. Just as the unemployed began to creep up in numbers after the recession started, and exacerbated by September 11 when a whole new crew of unemployed Americans came before the unemployment boards, now is the time to consider lifting the burden of income taxes that applies to those benefits. The chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means assured me that we would have discussion on this proposition; and when the time comes for that discussion, I ask the support of all of the Members because it is an unfair proposition to have our unemployed receive an unemployment compensation check and then have to calculate it in their taxes. We want to see that eliminated.”