Political Quotes

“I stand here today wanting to support a reform of the marriage tax penalty. It is wrong that we would punish people for being married, and that is why I would hope that we could support a bill that would be bipartisan. But what we have today is the Republican bill that is really a Trojan horse. I heard it referred to as the Hope Diamond, but it is really a Trojan horse, because half of those benefits in this bill go to people not subject to the marriage tax penalty right now. Let me repeat that, half the benefits of this bill go to the people who do not have any marriage tax penalty. That is what is wrong with this bill. It is irresponsible in size and cost, the GOP bill, its willingness to neglect the long-term needs of our country, Social Security, Medicare, paying down our debt, and even national defense. Later this year we will hear about how they want to do stuff for national defense. Well, you cannot give away the store now and expect to pay for it later. $182 billion would use the surplus in addressing American's priorities by paying down the national debt, Social Security and Medicare. Let me say as a Member of Congress, I would benefit. Like my colleague from Texas, I have a working spouse in Texas who is a schoolteacher. I would benefit from the Republican bill. But it is wrong to do that for the income level we have. It ought to go to the people who really need it, and that is what is wrong with this bill.”