Gerald Kleczka: “I always thought that charitable giving came from the heart and not through tax breaks in the Federal Tax Code. I come…”

“I always thought that charitable giving came from the heart and not through tax breaks in the Federal Tax Code. I come to the floor today to oppose this bill and I feel somewhat like the skunk at the picnic, but I think it is time that this Congress act more responsibly. Let me give my colleagues a little background as to where we are as far as the Federal deficit. This administration took over and inherited a $236 billion surplus. In 4 short years, they have turned it into a deficit, and the Congressional Budget Office indicates that deficit will be $580 billion. Yes, there has been a downturn in the economy, but more importantly over the last few years, this Congress has given almost $3 trillion in tax cuts. If these cuts were affordable, one would say fine. But they are not, my friends. For every tax cut we give today, it goes on the deficit and your kids and your grandkids are going to pay for it. Not us, your kids and grandkids will. So here we have a bill that costs $13 billion and it is geared to enhance charitable giving. What a noble purpose. If the economy was different, if the fiscal picture for the country was different, I probably would be supporting the bill, also. But, my friends, the plain, simple fact is, it is nice but we cannot afford it. My constituents would like to go and buy a new car and a new refrigerator, and those things are nice, but they cannot afford it, so they do not do it. But this Congress just cannot stop giving away money.”