David Obey: “Let me just say, then, Mr. Speaker, that is why I intend to oppose the previous question and the rule on this bill…”

“Let me just say, then, Mr. Speaker, that is why I intend to oppose the previous question and the rule on this bill, because the Committee on Rules did some picking and choosing. They provided waivers to the rules when they wanted to, and they did not when they did not want to. As a result, they have tried to block my ability to offer the amendment that was our number one priority on the minority side of the aisle, which is to restore the funding for the local law enforcement grants and to restore the cuts in EPA that were made by simply reducing the size of the tax cut that persons making $1 million a year or more will get in this country by $2,000. {time} 1045 That would mean instead of getting $140,000 tax cut this year, a millionaire would have to settle for $138,000. I know there are many Members on the majority side of the aisle who get irritated when I keep bringing up this trade-off, but the fact is that the wealthiest one- thousandth of 1 percent of our citizens have seen their share of the national income double since 1980. The bottom 90 percent of earners in this economy have seen their share of income fall. The 400 most well- off taxpayers in this country make at least $87 million a year. Those earning $10 million per year pay a smaller share of their income in taxes than those making $100,000 a year. Meanwhile, while the upper crust is having a high old time, the folks in the middle are struggling. They struggle to pay unexpected bills.…”