Joe Barton: “I am one of the few Members that was here back in 1986 when we had the last major tax cut before this body. The…”

“I am one of the few Members that was here back in 1986 when we had the last major tax cut before this body. The President was Ronald Reagan and the Speaker of the House was Tip O'Neill. They worked together on a bipartisan basis to cut taxes across the board. The result was the economic growth of the late 1980s and the early 1990s, up until the early 2000s, when we had 9/11. It is one of the best votes that I have ever taken as a Member of this body. Well, now we are here on another major tax bill. The problem this time around is that there is no bipartisanship. Why is that, Mr. Speaker? It is not because the Republicans don't want to be bipartisan. It is because the Democratic leadership this time around has just said no. This tax bill is a good bill. The distinguished gentleman from Vermont who just spoke is correct in that it is not revenue neutral. But, Mr. Speaker, revenues are at an all-time high. We are going to raise more money this year than we have ever raised before at the Federal level. Let me repeat that: raise more money than we have ever raised before at the Federal level. Isn't it time to give hardworking Americans a little of that money back? That is what this bill does. It cuts rates for every working American. Let me repeat that: it cuts rates for every working American. No matter what your tax rate is today, under this bill, it is going to be lower if you are an individual. If you are a corporation, it is going to be lower.…”