Jim Clyburn

I would very much like to see that.

So there is a correlation.

The impact, reducing the unemployment. If you were to drop unemployment from 9.1 to, say, 8.6, can you give us some idea of what impact that would have on the deficit?

In 1986, a Republican President and a Democratic Congress found common ground and came to a bipartisan agreement.

I would like to see some analyses.

The Tax Code has grown too complicated and cumbersome and is fundamentally unfair.

Is it fair to value wealth more than we value work?

The overarching mission of this committee is to find common ground.

Do you agree that a VAT is a viable option?

It is unfair that the wealthiest among us get the most tax breaks.

Well, just let me say, to be certain, I am just as concerned as my good friend Senator Kyl is about fraud and abuse.

Isn't it true that every major economy with which the United States competes really funds their government through consumption taxes?

It is unfair that a number of top corporations who are making record profits pay more to their CEOs than they do in taxes.

So it is a double whammy.

It is unfair that wages are often taxed at a higher rate than investments.

We created a new prescription drug benefit program, which CBO estimates will cost $967 billion over the next 10 years.

And then it was declared that deficits don't matter. This special committee was created because deficits and debt do matter.

Is it class warfare to seek some equity in the Tax Code?

If we want to solve the related problems of debt and joblessness, we need to know how these problems arose.

Instead of building on the policies that have served us so well, we embarked upon two wars, one of which was dubious at best.

If we had a decrease in unemployment of just, say, 0.5 percent--from 9.1 to 8.6--what would be the level of revenue increase?

I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Weiner).

I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

To begin this debate, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished Democratic whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

I would like to take just a moment to associate myself with the remarks we just heard from Congressman Joe Wilson and to welcome my longtime friend, Reverend Charles Jackson, who when we meet in the barber shop I usually call him a little…