Political Quotes

“I rise in support of H.R. 3996, Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2007 and urge my colleagues to join me in voting for its passage. This bill provides tax relief for millions of Americans by raising the exemption amounts on the Alternative Minimum Tax, and ensuring that no new taxpayers would be subject to this higher rate. H.R. 3996 would prevent a tax increase on 21 million taxpayers when they file their 2007 tax returns. The Alternative Minimum Tax was originally enacted to prevent only the very wealthiest of Americans from avoiding income tax payment. However, over the years its reach has grown to affect more and more middle income taxpayers, and estimates show that as many as 30 million taxpayers would be ensnared by this higher tax rate by 2010. This bill will spare over 15,000 people in my district alone, from paying the Alternative Minimum Tax. As a part-time farmer and a former small business owner, I know the crucial importance of this sector to the economy as a whole. I support tax relief for the middle class workers and families who help drive our economy. However, I am concerned that this bill does not include an offset and is not budget-neutral. I am strongly in favor of providing tax relief to millions of Americans, but we need to address this problem in a responsible way that maintains the integrity of our budget, and avoids adding to the budget deficit and our national debt.”