Mike Enzi: “once again we have a challenging task before us. We have to draw a road map that will lead to economic growth…”

“once again we have a challenging task before us. We have to draw a road map that will lead to economic growth, development, and future sustainability. We have to come up with a package that is fair to all taxpayers. One that eliminates complexity instead of creating more of it. Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. So far, we have all been talking about it. In fact, as I have listened to my colleagues speak throughout the day, I have been struck by the unusual tenor of this debate. We have Democrats claiming they want to eliminate tax increases and Republicans saying we need to use tax increases to offset other provisions. While I have serious reservations about voting for a package that appears to rob Peter to pay Paul, I believe the Finance Committee has crafted a bill that will lead to the creation of new jobs. And, that is what this debate should be about. In April, the number of unemployed people in this country rose to 8.8 million--8.8 million. That is 8.8 million Americans without jobs and without paychecks--but still with plenty of bills to pay. That kind of economic chaos sends ripples throughout the economy. It affects more and more people until we do something to stop it. Until we take action to stem and control the problem so that the economy can regain its strength. The strength of our economy lies in our workforce, so we have to put into place a plan for growth that will actually encourage the creation of new jobs.”