Orrin Hatch: “I rise today to join with many of my friends and colleagues in acknowledging a red letter day. Today is tax freedom…”

“I rise today to join with many of my friends and colleagues in acknowledging a red letter day. Today is tax freedom day--the day the American family breaks the shackles placed on them by high taxes in this country, the day when Americans can stop working for the Government and start working for themselves. Not until May 7, 1996, do average families actually earn enough money to start paying their own bills instead of the Government's. Not until May 7 do average Americans have after-tax money to pay for their houses. Not until May 7 do average Americans have after-tax money to buy food and clothing for their families. And, never has tax freedom day occurred so late in the year. Look at the calendar: 1996 is more than one-third over. Americans work one-third of the entire year just to support governments. I often wish the big spenders both in Congress and in the executive branch would stop thinking in terms of revenue and start thinking in terms of what revenue really is--taxes.”