Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, I think something has gone overlooked here today, which is that this is a bill that has bipartisan support. So often back home, the folks want us to do things that have bipartisan support. We've seen several Members from across the aisle speak in favor of this bill and of this rule today; but I think something else is going overlooked, which is that the President should support this. This should be a bill that the President of the United States supports. After all, he was the one who said when he was campaigning--and I'm quoting now from candidate Barack Obama: I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase-- not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes. {time} 1320 By the way, Mr. Chairman, it's very rare that we speak that boldly in politics. Oftentimes, we give ourselves space to walk things back. But that is about as unequivocal a statement as you can get. I imagine that since that statement was made in 2008, it's by accident that we have, by my count, at least 13 taxes that violate that pledge. We have a new tax on cigarettes, a tax on non-qualified HSA distributions, a tax on insured and self-insured health plans, a tax on tanning services, a tax on brand name pharmaceuticals, and, of course, this tax on certain medical devices.…”