Political Quotes

“I have long advocated making changes to the tax code designed to encourage charitable giving. Indeed, I have promoted some of the proposals contained in the legislation we have before us today, including the charitable IRA rollover and the deduction for non-itemizers, for many years. Because the legislation we are considering, the Community Solutions Act, contains a number of worthwhile provisions that I believe will help encourage people to give to charity, I rise today to express my support. However, while I believe this legislation is a step in the right direction, H.R. 7 is but a first step. Frankly, we need to do more, and in my remarks today I would like to highlight a number of items that I believe need to receive further consideration by the Ways and Means Committee and the Congress in the near future. My first comments relate to the largest provision in this legislation in terms of revenue impact--the charitable deduction for non-itemizers. I do not believe there is a member in Congress who has fought longer or harder for restoring the charitable deduction for non-itemizers than I.”