Thomas Foley: “I want to talk specifically, because we are hearing a lot of rhetoric today, about how we are matching priorities with…”

“I want to talk specifically, because we are hearing a lot of rhetoric today, about how we are matching priorities with our ability to pay. Basically, we are covering a fiscal relief package that not only provides Social Security and Medicare, but takes care of priorities and provides what we think is a rather slim tax relief package. Now, the people on the other side of the aisle say they represent the working class, and I appreciate their interest in that subject. I started in life in a gas station. I went on to become a dishwasher in a restaurant. I went on at the age of 21 to start a small family business in Lakeworth, Florida. And week after week I would work hard, with the help of my employees, to make the business a success. But oftentimes there was no money left for me at the end of the week. So when people demean a $180 tax cut as insignificant, maybe it is easy for people who make $145,000 a year to say $20 or $30 a month is insignificant. But I know when I was struggling in my business, if I got an extra 5 bucks a week I was delighted, because I was able to do something in my community with that $5. Let us not diminish this debate into, as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) said, a class warfare debate.”