June 26, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4651 served 7 years as a gunner in World H. RES. 176 Our Nation could have lost control of War II, he went to work for Lorene’s Resolved, That upon the adoption of this its destiny, but this Congress took ac- father, where they first met. resolution it shall be in order, any rule of tion to save Medicare, pass a balanced After they wed, they lived on a small the House to the contrary notwithstanding, budget and provide massive tax relief farm in Harrisonville, GA, and every to consider a concurrent resolution provid- for our families. These are truly his- day Grover commuted to Hapeville, ing for adjournment of the House and Senate toric accomplishments. for the Independence Day district work Independence Day is a time to cele- GA, to work for Ford Motor Co. During period. this time, Lorene worked at Callaway brate the birth of this Nation and the Mills until she decided to quit in order The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. perseverance of the Founding Fathers to raise their three children. In 1975, UPTON). The gentleman from Georgia who fought the heavy hand of govern- Grover and Lorene sold the farm and (Mr. LINDER) is recognized for 1 hour. ment and oppressive taxes. The budget went to work for Milliken Mills until Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, for the passed by this Congress reduces the op- their retirement in the late 1980’s. purpose of debate only, I yield the cus- pressive taxes on American families In addition to working hard and rais- tomary 30 minutes to the gentleman and balances the budget. ing a great family, the Hobbses helped from Massachusetts (Mr. MOAKLEY), Mr. Speaker, this resolution simply to found the Harrisonville Baptist pending which I yield myself such time allows us to go home to our friends and Church in which, as a church service, as I may consume. During consider- neighbors to listen to what our con- they regularly visit the local nursing ation of this resolution, all time yield- stituents have to say about issues that home. ed is for the purpose of debate only. are important to their lives. As we cel- It is extremely heart warming, Mr. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 176 ebrate the birth of our Nation with Speaker, to see two people so devoted provides for the consideration in the them, I believe they will be very to church, their family, and of course House of a concurrent resolution pro- pleased to celebrate the triumph of to each other. Their commitment truly viding for the adjournment of the lower taxes, less Government and more personifies what marriage ought to be. House and Senate for the Independence freedom. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of I would like to extend the warmest of Day district work period. All points of my time. congratulations to Grover and Lorene order are waived against the resolution and its consideration. Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Hobbs for years past and years to come the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. of a happy and healthy marriage on As Members are aware, section 309 of LINDER] for yielding me the customary their 50th wedding anniversary. the Budget Act states that the House cannot adjourn for more than 3 cal- half hour, and I yield myself such time f endar days in July if it has not com- as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is one REPUBLICAN TAX BILL OFFERS pleted actions on all appropriations bills. In addition, section 310 requires more way for the Republican leader- BONANZA FOR AFFLUENT, ship to go on vacation before their CRUMBS FOR WORKING CLASS that reconciliation legislation if di- rected by the budget resolution, be work is done. It is one more way for ´ (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was completed before such an adjournment. my Republican colleagues to get out of given permission to address the House Ordinarily, these two potential their responsibilities to the people of for 1 minute.) points of order against an adjournment this country, and I think it is a bad ´ Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the resolution for the Fourth of July Dis- idea. Normally adjournment resolu- Republicans will stand here today and trict Work Period are waived by unani- tions are privileged, but in the rare say that they are bringing tax relief to mous consent. In fact, we attempted to cases when Congress fails to get its the middle class. They complain that work with the minority to reach an ac- work done, the Budget Act kicks in the Democrats are being less than hon- ceptable unanimous consent agree- and exposes these adjournment resolu- est about the Republicans’ attack on ment. When we were in the minority, tions to points of order. According to the Budget Act, Mr. working families. Well, Mr. Speaker, we consistently allowed these unani- Speaker, the House cannot adjourn for even the Wall Street Journal, no friend mous consent agreements. This year, more than 3 days unless it passes all its of the Democrats, agreed with us. however, the minority rejected our re- appropriations bills and unless the rec- Here it is in the Wall Street Journal. quest. The Republican bill is, and I quote, ‘‘a onciliation bill has been signed into It is true that the Congress has not law. Mr. Speaker, we all know the ap- bonanza for the affluent, crumbs for completed its work on the appropria- the working class.’’ It ‘‘shamefully propriations bills are nowhere near fin- tions bills and the reconciliation legis- ished. short changes the working poor.’’ The lation, and I guess I can understand the Wall Street Journal says that under The first part of the reconciliation despondency of the minority. The past bill passed the House only last night the Republican plan, Bill Gates will get few days have not been enjoyable for a $4,000 tax break for education ex- and the second part of the reconcili- those who support high taxes and big ation bill will be considered for the penses, while a new police officer mak- government solutions. first time later today. The Senate has ing $23,000 will be denied a tax credit However, these are extraordinary just started debating the reconciliation for his kids. times for those of us who support the bill and the conference committee has Mr. Speaker, if the Republicans are axiom that the Government is too big not even met yet. In other words, Mr. not listening to the American people and spends too much. In fact, I would Speaker, if you are waiting for these and they are not listening to the Wall say that this Congress, more than any spending bills to be finished, please do Street Journal, it seems obvious who other, has led the way in exhibiting fis- not hold your breath. they are listening to, to their cam- cal sanity. Mr. Speaker, the American people paign contributors. No, the appropriations bills and the sent us to Congress to act responsibly f reconciliation legislation are not yet and the Congressional Budget Act gives complete. However, balancing the us some very specific responsibilities. PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION budget is more difficult than the prac- Section 300 requires that Congress OF CONCURRENT RESOLUTION tice of past Congresses, which simply complete action on reconciliation leg- PROVIDING FOR ADJOURNMENT passed irresponsible debt on to our islation by June 15 and pass all 13 ap- OF HOUSE AND SENATE FOR grandchildren. propriations bills by June 30. Mr. INDEPENDENCE DAY DISTRICT America was headed for a future in Speaker, this Congress has not even WORK PERIOD which interest on the debt would sur- come close. The appropriations bills Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, by direc- pass spending on the defense of our Na- may not seem urgent now, but unless tion of the Committee on Rules, I call tion, a future in which Medicare would the House does its work and unless the up House Resolution 176 and ask for its go bankrupt by 2002, and a future which House gives the Senate enough time to immediate consideration. had taxpayers giving more and more of do its work, we will be approaching an- The Clerk read the resolution, as their hard-earned money to support a other September 30 without all appro- follows: bloated Washington bureaucracy. priations bills being signed. If we fail H4652 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 1997 to finish the appropriations bills and b 1030 the Senate, are now giving the Amer- they are not signed into law, the Amer- And we should have finished our ican people one of the biggest tax cuts ican people could very well see their work a long time ago. in American history, and we are doing Government shut down for the third Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of it way ahead of that August 10 date. So time under the Republican leadership’s my time. boy, we are on line. watch. All because the Republican Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield So let us just talk for a minute about leadership has not done their work. myself 1 minute to respond to the gen- not having the work done. As my col- That is not the worst of it, Mr. tleman from Massachusetts who is so leagues know, we have just passed the Speaker. What the Republican leader- concerned that we have not completed largest spending cut bill in centuries ship has done is even worse than what our work. here; OK. Seven hundred billion dollars they have not done. This week the Re- The same argument came up 1 year in entitlement controls; come over publican leadership unveiled their tax ago on this same issue because the here and read them. And we had about and entitlement package and, Mr. Democrats at that time were again not 53 good Democrats vote for this yester- Speaker, it does not look good. Under cooperative on unanimous consent. My day along with the overwhelming ma- the Republican bill, the families of 40 colleague, the gentleman from Florida jority of Republicans, and the Presi- percent of American children will get [Mr. DIAZ-BALART], went back 6 years dent of the United States, thank good- no tax relief because their income is prior to 1996 and discovered that not ness, is going to sign the bill over the too low. once, not once during those 6 years objections of the big spenders on that Let me add, Mr. Speaker, these peo- were all 13 appropriations bills passed side of the aisle. ple are not on welfare. These people ac- by the July recess; and indeed, if we go Now let us talk about the big spend- tually work for a living. Meanwhile, back 40 years, one time, 1988, were all ers for a minute because I am going to according to the Center on Budget and the appropriations bills passed by the sit here for the next hour and I am Policy Priorities, the Republican bill July recess. going to keep track of all of the people provides 87 percent of its benefits to . . . . who come over here and start com- the richest 20 percent of Americans Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I take plaining about this tax cut; OK? Mr. while the 40 million families with the the gentleman’s words down calling me Speaker, I want you to listen. These lowest income may actually lose dishonest. Members who oppose the tax cuts, keep money. Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I apolo- in mind that every single one of them Even the Treasury Department says gize and ask unanimous consent to are going to be on the National Tax- that when this bill has been fully im- withdraw the words. payers Union’s list of biggest spenders. plemented, the top 1 percent of tax- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without Now why do my colleagues think payers will get nearly 20 percent of the objection, the words are withdrawn. they want to oppose this tax cut? Be- benefits, and the bottom 60 percent will There was no objection. cause they want to keep the money in get only 12 percent of the benefits. Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would the Federal coffers so that they can Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Repub- like to ask the gentleman to look at spend it and the American people can- lican leadership is taking from the the last year of Speaker Foley when we not. poor and the middle class and giving to passed all 13 appropriations bills. Now let me tell my colleagues some- the rich. It is a Robin Hood reversal. It Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield thing about this tax cut here. There is does not stop there, Mr. Speaker. Ac- such time as he may consume to the a $500 tax credit for people with chil- cording to today’s New York Times, a gentleman from New York [Mr. SOLO- dren. Now that means a family of 3, small provision in this Republican bill MON], the chairman of the Committee and in my Hudson River Valley munici- will take $9 million and split it among on Rules. palities all 157 of them, that is about 1,000 wealthy taxpayers. Some of these Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I will what we are made up with; we are an taxpayers actually stand to gain not withdraw my words. I am not going average of a family with 3 children, and $100,000 each under this bill. to impugn anybody’s integrity. But I this is going to give them $500 per child Mr. Speaker, not 5 miles from here am going to talk about two kinds of tax credit every year for the next 15 are American children who do not get baloney, two kinds. One is the baloney years. Now add that up; that is $1,500 a enough to eat during the summer be- about why we are not going home this year we are putting back into the cause they have lost their school week and why we ought to stay here pockets of that family, 15 years. Quick lunches, but my Republican colleagues and work, because that is a lot of balo- calculation: that must add up to about still want to hand those enormous tax ney; and then I am going to talk about $22,500 a year over 15 years; and if they breaks to the very richest Americans complaining about the tax cuts, and let invest it properly, it is going to be and hand just about nothing to the me tell my colleagues that is a lot of worth maybe $40,000, $50,000 or $60,000 rest. baloney on the other side of the aisle. over 15 years. Do my colleagues know Mr. Speaker, the American people do Let us talk about it for a minute. what that does at paying college tui- not think millionaires need more First of all, the gentleman from Massa- tions? money. They think everyone else needs chusetts [Mr. MOAKLEY], my good I just put five kids through college. child tax credits and tuition tax cred- friend, and I have the greatest respect My wife and I had five children in 7 its. The American people do not think for him, I literally love him. He is my years, and we struggled all those years the richest 1 percent of Americans need ranking member over on the other side to raise those children and then to put a $27,000 tax break and certainly not if of the aisle. He sings little Irish ditties, them through college. Let me tell my it is going to cost the poorest 20 per- and he really keeps us in a good mood, colleagues $65,000 would have been a cent of American families $63 apiece to so I certainly would never impugn his godsend to us, but we did not have this give it to them. But that is exactly integrity. But let me just say he men- $1,500 tax credit at that time; we are what my Republican colleagues want tioned something about how we ought going to get it today. to do. to stay here and deal with this busi- So I want my colleagues to come On the other hand, Mr. Speaker, the ness. over here, and I want them to do what House Democrats have put together a As my colleagues know, back in 1993 is right for the American people. I bill that gives tax relief to the people the Democrat-controlled House and the want them to vote for this tax cut that really need it, the middle class, Democrat-controlled Senate and the package. But in the meantime we are people who are trying to send their Democrat-controlled White House going to keep track of all of them that kids to college, working families, and under President Clinton gave us on Oc- come over here, and they will be the family-owned businesses. tober 10 the biggest tax increase in his- biggest spenders in the Congress, and I urge my colleagues to join me in tory. Now that was, I beg my col- they will have been here for years opposing this resolution. This Congress leagues’ pardon, on August 10. Now spending the taxpayers’ money. So let should be helping the middle class and that is several, a couple of months us just keep track of it, and then we not padding the pockets of million- down the road yet, but we Republicans, are going to send it out to all their aires. having taken control of the House and constituents and let them know that June 26, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4653 our colleagues can spend their money working middle-class families in this Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. better than they can. country? Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield? Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gen- myself such time as I may consume. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield? tleman from Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, my chairman of the Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gen- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Committee on Rules and I are very, tleman from California. Speaker, my colleagues ought to make very friendly, and this debate is strict- Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. clear the basis on which the Repub- ly on the issue. But actually up in his Speaker, I think the gentlewoman licans are denying these families that office, really being ourselves, we really asked the absolutely pertinent ques- participation in the tax cut. They are do get along, and actually I was look- tion here, what about working middle- apparently under the impression that ing forward when he talked about balo- class families, and it is pointed out in Social Security payroll taxes are not ney because I thought he was talking this morning’s Wall Street Journal. taxes but are a voluntary gift that the about the menu of those people that I What we see is people who were earning lowest earning people in America make represent. As my colleagues know, his $23,000 a year with two children will to the Government. What the Repub- people are going to be eating steaks find that at the end of that year they lican bill does is to say that people who when this tax bill goes through; my will not get the benefits of this child’s get the earned income tax credit will people are going to be eating baloney. tax credit, they will not get the bene- not be eligible on the whole for this Mr. Speaker, I yield 15 minutes to fits because the Republicans have de- other credit. the gentlewoman from Connecticut cided that the benefits will only go to Now the earned income tax credit [Ms. DELAURO]. those individuals at the top levels. was something that Ronald Reagan Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank Rather than sharing this tax cut, thought well of, but the current group the gentleman from Massachusetts for rather than sharing the money that is has made some of us who believe in yielding the time. now being accumulated because of the moderation nostalgic for Mr. Reagan I also want to say that I do not think efforts to balance the budget over the from time to time because what they that the American people do believe it last 5 years with these middle-class say is this. The earned income tax is baloney if we stay here and do the families, they have decided, as the gen- credit compensates people who have work they sent us to do here. tlewoman pointed out, that half of the families, by and large, who make 20 House rules say that we cannot go on benefits will go to the top 5 percent of and 25 and $26,000 a year and who pay vacation until it is finished with appro- the people in this country. the highest percentage of their income priations work, and we know that the And so people who are going to work in taxes of any of us because every work has not been finished, otherwise every day as law enforcement officials, penny they make is fully taxed under we would not be here asking for a waiv- as fire protection people, as teachers, the Social Security payroll tax. And er. And the reason why the work is not as oil refinery workers are going to what the earned income tax credit does finished is because what we have seen find out that they will not qualify for is offset to some extent the regressive- here is that the Republican majority that. ness of the Social Security payroll tax, has spent their time crafting a tax bill In fact, in my State of California 56 and people who get the earned income that in fact benefits the rich at the ex- percent of the children will not be eli- tax credit, they do not get the earned pense of average American families. gible for the child tax credit, and I income tax credit unless they are And in fact we have a historic oppor- think that is what is going to happen working or paying payroll tax on all of tunity and the American public has an to working families, and I thank the their income and they are then getting opportunity to take a look at what is gentlewoman for pointing that out. some credit for that less than the ag- in a Republican tax cut proposal and Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, I thank gressiveness. And the Republicans are what is in a Democratic tax cut pro- my colleague. now saying, ‘‘If that’s your situation, posal because the Democrats in fact Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, will the you’re not a taxpayer.’’ They said we have a very sound and solid tax cut gentlewoman yield? cannot give this to people, they do not proposal. Ms. DELAURO. I yield to my col- pay taxes. My colleagues on the other side of league from New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, if Social Security pay- the aisle accuse us of waging class war- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I just roll taxes are not taxes, then I guess fare in this debate, but in fact it is the wanted to say I am looking at some we need a new dictionary and that is Republican tax bill that is a declara- figures with regard to New York State, how it becomes so regressive. What tion of war on working middle-class the gentleman from New York [Mr. they are saying to people is, ‘‘You are families in America. Under the Repub- SOLOMON] who spoke before on the Re- paying these very aggressive Social Se- lican bill, over half the tax benefits go publican side. It says that tax plans, curity taxes,’’ for which, by the way, to the top 5 percent of Americans, the child credit, the child credit under according to the Senate they have to those making an average of $250,000 a the Republican plan would exclude 53 wait a couple more years to get any- year. And quite honestly what this bill to 56 percent of the children in New thing for medical care, ‘‘and we are does, it gives a $22 billion tax break to York State; 3,183,357 New York kids going to deny you as a consequence of the largest businesses and corporations will be ineligible under the House plan that the tax credit.’’ in the United States by scaling back for the child tax credit. This is from Ms. DELAURO. I will just say that, if the alternative minimum tax which Citizens for Tax Justice, a nonpartisan we are Bill Gates we are going to get a was in fact proposed and supposed to Washington-based research organiza- tax credit, but a police officer who is ensure that large corporations pay at tion that released a study today show- making $23,000 a year who might be least some taxes the way that ordinary ing that the proposed child credit in happy to get the earned income tax, working families pay taxes in this the pending House of Representatives paying taxes, is going to be denied a country every year. tax plan would exclude 56 percent of child tax credit. But do not just take my word for it. New York children. The Senate bill Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. The Let us take a look at this morning’s would exclude 53 percent. Obviously argument that we have heard from Re- headlines. The Washington Post: No to the families of New York have been publicans, from the Speaker, and oth- a bad tax bill. And I quote: ‘‘The tax promised a child tax credit for 3 years, ers that, ‘‘Oh, you shouldn’t give the bill will be the great atrocity’’, is what but now many of them, the majority of tax credit to these people who don’t the Washington Post says this morn- them will actually get nothing. pay any taxes,’’ they forget to say in- ing. The New York Times, quote: Ms. DELAURO. That is absolutely come taxes or capital gains taxes, that ‘‘Break for a few rich, for the rich few, right. I just say that there is a Los An- is true. Very few of these people mak- sneaks into the tax cut bill’’. We are geles Times article this morning: Take ing 23 and $24,000 a year are paying cap- going to see $9 million a year in lost from the poor give to the rich. The cur- ital gains taxes. They are paying the revenue to the United States to give a rent Republican tax and entitlement Social Security taxes in the most ag- bonanza worth thousands of dollars to package denies help to 28 million work- gressive way; that is the group of peo- 1,000 wealthy taxpayers. What about ing families. ple who are getting hurt by this. H4654 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 1997

Mr. MILLER of California. The fact relief for the rich. My grandmother Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gen- is many young families starting out used to say when I was a kid, the rich tleman from Maine. with young children pay more in pay- get richer, the poor get poorer. I think Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, the gentle- roll taxes, Social Security than they we are seeing it in action today. woman makes a very good point. Be- pay in income taxes. But the Repub- Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, will cause in fact, the HOPE credit, the lican plan will not give them the bene- the gentlewoman yield? HOPE scholarship would be offset, re- fit of the $500 child credit. Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gentle- duced dollar for dollar by the amount What does that mean? That means woman from Michigan. of a Pell grant. So here again we have that these working families making 20, Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, if I the same situation, where if one gets a $25,000 a year are going to find them- could just add to that, that police offi- Pell grant one cannot get the full bene- selves without the benefit of this. They cer making $23,000 is getting a tax ben- fit of a HOPE scholarship. still have two young children. They are efit through something called earned It seems to me that this Republican still struggling hard. But the Repub- income tax credit. The Republican plan tax bill ought to be judged by two licans do not understand that because is saying, if one is getting one tax de- standards. One is fairness and the other one does not make a lot of money does duction, one cannot get a second, is fiscal responsibility. We have talked not mean they do not work hard. They meaning the $500 children’s tax credit a fair bit about fairness. work very hard and they pay the most as we see it. This bill provides 41 percent of its regressive taxes, and they refuse to Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, will the benefits to the top 1 percent of the tax- give the child credit to those families. gentlewoman yield? payers, those whose household incomes Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gen- are over $240,000 a year. In contrast, 20 tleman from Massachusetts. Speaker, if the gentlewoman will con- percent of those in lower tax brackets Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would tinue to yield, the gentleman is abso- would not receive any benefit. It is lutely right, and I think what we have like to say I have just been handed an item from the Citizens For Tax Jus- simply not fair. here is something we can offer up to Also, in terms of fiscal responsibility, tice, which is a nonpartisan Washing- the dictionary. This is the definition of we look out at the second 10 years, and ton-based research group, saying that adding insult to injury. These working we are going to be giving up $500 to $600 897,000 Massachusetts children would people who work in hard jobs at rel- million in tax revenues that is not atively low wages are injured by the be ineligible under the House plan, and 850,000 would be ineligible under the going to help a balanced budget. We Republican bill by being denied the tax need a balanced budget that we can get credit that everybody else gets. Even if Senate plan. That is 48 percent of Mas- sachusetts’ children ineligible under to and stay with, and these tax cuts ex- they have two and three children, their plode in the outyears, they are not fis- children do not qualify, and then they the House plan and 46 percent ineli- gible under the Senate plan. This is not cally responsible, and they ought to be are insulted by being characterized as rejected for that reason as well. people who do not work and as simply a good bill for children. Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, will Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield tax eaters. 1 the gentlewoman yield? myself 1 ⁄2 minutes just to respond to b 1045 Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gentle- some of these remarks we have been I would just close by saying we have woman from Michigan. hearing. this national effort, I thought, to help Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, if I The liberals have always trotted out people get off welfare and into the might just continue in talking about liberal so-called nonpartisan organiza- wage-earning pool. Well, it is precisely fairness, when we each do our taxes, we tions to argue against letting people the formal welfare recipients who are use tax deductions. What the Repub- keep more of what they earn, and we being told to go to work, who are being lican plan is saying is if one gets one are seeing it now. How do these people required to go to work, who will then tax deduction, one cannot get the $500 get wealthy? Let me tell my colleagues be penalized by the way the Republican children’s tax credit; but yet if one how the administration determines tax bill is crafted, because they will go makes three times that salary and one who is wealthy. to work at the beginning at relatively gets a lot of different tax deductions, They determine what one’s income low wages, will pay a full Social Secu- one gets the $500. That makes abso- is, say it is $50,000 a year, and then the rity tax for every penny they earn, but lutely no sense. For those on the upper Treasury Department says, but, aha, if not get the tax credit. end who get lots of tax deductions, one is living in one’s own home and one Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, will the they ought to be treated the same, or could rent it for $10,000, one must con- gentlewoman yield? the folks at the low end who ought to sider that as more income, even though Ms. DELAURO. I yield to the gen- get a couple breaks ought to get the one does not get it. If one owns an tleman from Maryland. same benefit of the $500. asset that has appreciated in value and Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, I share my Ms. DELAURO. Mr. Speaker, reclaim- have not sold it, their proposal says, if colleague’s concern. I too am appalled ing my time, the 1,000 families who are it has grown in value, one must con- when I hear the Republicans suggest going to get some, and it is quoted in sider that as part of one’s annual that the Democratic tax plan amounts the article today, could get up to wealth. So they have bogused up these to welfare. It is basically tax fairness. $100,000 in that particular tax cut and numbers to make everybody appear They are giving all of the tax breaks to are probably going to get many others. wealthy so they can transfer more the wealthy. The top 5 percent are get- I think another area which is impor- money as welfare to the poor. This is ting over 50 percent of the tax breaks tant to mention in this debate is that an effort to undermine last year’s wel- under their proposal, and then when we with the Democratic tax cut proposal, fare reform. say that the Democratic alternative we are going to see working families I would like to also point out that provides tax relief for the truly work- who want to get their kids to school their arguments go against the Joint ing middle class, they suggest it is wel- and provide education for their kids; Tax Committee’s argument, which is fare. education in this country has been the the only official organ for determining I did a little research and an article great equalizer to allow families to be distribution tables. The Joint Tax in the Wall Street Journal indicated able to have their kids succeed. Committee says the following: Ninety- that a police officer in Gwinnett Coun- The Democratic proposal is for the three percent of the benefits go to peo- ty, GA, incidentally the Speaker’s dis- full $1,500 tax credit for college stu- ple with incomes of less than $100,000 a trict, makes about $23,000 a year. Under dents, where the Republican proposal year; 76 percent of the benefits go to their program, he is not eligible for a would cut that in half, would not allow people with incomes below $75,000 a tax break, yet he pays payroll taxes. working families to realize a HOPE year. That simply is a fact. It is not a He is, in fact, the working middle class scholarship and provide them with all comfortable fact for liberals, but it is a of people who are excluded by the pro- of the help they might be able to get to fact. posal of the Republicans. get their kids to school. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the Basically what they are offering us is Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman from Florida [Mr. not tax relief for Americans, it is tax gentlewoman yield? SCARBOROUGH]. June 26, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4655 Mr. SCARBOROUGH. Mr. Speaker, I Irish ditties, and a man that I respect no Roosevelt? It was a forced savings do not know what it is, maybe it is the watching him work, I challenge him. I account so that the American people, summer heat, maybe it is the 50th an- would challenge the ranking member all of them who work, would have to niversary of Roswell, but the Demo- and again, any other liberal that stood save a little bit for the rainy day so crats, the liberals, actually the radi- up here opposing tax relief talking that they would not become wards of cals that control this party are crawl- about how they care about what hap- the State and the rest of us who did ing out from underneath their rocks pens 5 miles from Washington, DC to save would have to end up supporting and once again showing why they were stand up and say yes, we will support them. voted out in 1994. the plan of the gentlewoman from the b 1100 Here we have people that increase District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON] for That is what it is all about. Nothing the crushing tax burden on the Amer- a flat tax in Washington, DC. If so, regressive about it. It means that with ican family from 10 percent when they then I think that is a good start to the first few thousand dollars of your gain control to something like 50.2 per- agree that Americans need tax relief. income you are going to put away a lit- cent, according to NTU, in 1994, lectur- Like the Delegate from Washington, tle bit of that. That is the way it ing us on taxes. They gave us the high- DC recognizes herself, big spending, big should be. est tax increase in the history of this taxing, big government has failed. Now people are complaining that country a few years ago, and yet they What Americans need now is tax relief, maybe some people with incomes of are still talking about how if we actu- and tax relief helps everybody. $25,000 do not pay any income tax and My colleagues just cannot have it ally give tax relief to Americans, that therefore they do not get this credit. it is going to crush the poor children 5 both ways. They cannot quote liberal Let me tell them what we are going to miles from the Capitol. columnists like Al Hunt, they cannot do. In this spending cut bill we are cut- I think they have got it backward. quote liberal agencies run by, I believe, ting back on Federal regulation. The children 5 miles from the Capitol Ralph Nader, and then come in here If Members look at the other taxes that are suffering are suffering because and say they want to help people in the they pay in town, city, village, and of higher taxes and bigger Government inner cities when they turn their backs county taxes and all of the fees, it is spending and more regulations that on the very delegates from those inner caused mostly by this Federal Govern- they are going to shove down the cities who beg for tax relief. ment, their mandates. We are not American people’s throats this sum- Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield going to mandate on local governments mer. I think if they talk about the myself such time as I may consume. anymore, forcing them to raise land problems in south central L.A. or in I am glad my colleague brought that taxes. Chicago, it is because government has up. What he is talking about is exactly So come on over here, vote for this failed, the big taxing and big spending what I am going to do. The Democratic tax cut bill, and let us give it to the policies have failed. alternative does help these children 5 President. I have a feeling he is going Let me challenge every one of these miles from here. The Rangel alter- to sign it. big spenders, every one of these people native does help these children 5 miles Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 that have supported taxes over the from here, but it does not give those minutes to the gentleman from South years, to stand up and tell us how 1,000 people up to $100,000 additional Dakota [Mr. THUNE]. much they care about the children 5 tax break. Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank miles from this Capitol when the dele- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of the gentleman for yielding time to me. gate from Washington, DC begged for my time. Mr. Speaker, I was sitting in my of- tax relief. The gentlewoman from the Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield fice listening to the debate that was District of Columbia said please, give such time as he may consume to the going on over here, and I could not help us a flat tax. Please cut taxes in Wash- gentleman from New York [Mr. SOLO- but feel the need to come over and re- ington, DC. She was abandoned by MON], chairman of the Committee on spond. There is a lot of liberal drivel every single liberal that stands up here Rules. going on in this Chamber right now. I today and acts as if they really do care Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, first of cannot help but get up here and say about what happens 5 miles from this all, I have some good news for my col- something in response to that. Capitol; and no, I am anticipating the leagues. Well, no, it is not good news If I were on the other side I would be gentleman’s question, I will not yield. for the big spenders, because the Su- crushed, too, I really would. Because My colleagues on the other side of the preme Court a few minutes ago, within we have worked with their President to aisle all have already put on their side- the last hour, just threw out the case balance the budget, lower taxes, and show. of the opponents of the line-item veto save Medicare. This is an indictment of I want somebody that stood up a few for lack of standing. Whoopee. We won big Government. We are saying today minutes ago talking about how much another one. we are interested in doing something they care about the residents of this Now, let us just answer some of the to address a problem that has been inner city and the residents of inner people here that are talking about peo- around this place for 30 years. We have cities all over the country to stand up ple with children are not going to get not had the courage to balance the and tell me that yes, they do support this tax cut, this $500 tax credit. Again, budget, to lower the tax burden, or to the tax plan of the gentlewoman from here we go with the baloney again. address a bigger and bigger Govern- the District of Columbia [Ms. NORTON] Anybody paying Federal income taxes ment in this country. for tax reduction in this city. is going to get that tax cut, make no I cannot help but listen as well and My colleagues cannot have it both mistake about it. respond to what is being said about ways. They cannot say sure, we want Now, we are also hearing about this 5 trying to somehow gear this thing so to help them, and yet every time there percent, that all of the tax cuts are that it affects people in lower-income is a chance to cut taxes and give tax going to 5 percent of the most rich. Let categories. relief to American people, my col- me state the facts for you. Seventy-two People in my State, in South Dakota, leagues fight it time and time again. percent of these tax cuts in this bill are understand the difference between the This is not about protecting the poor. going to people with incomes between income tax and the payroll tax. You My colleagues know that tax relief has $20,000 and $70,000, and that means peo- pay 6.2 percent of your income when helped the poor. History has shown it ple on Social Security as well, who you get a payday, so you will have a se- time and time again. This is about pro- may be working and paying a little in- curity program, a retirement program tecting the coffers of the Federal come tax as well. when you retire. You pay 1.45 percent Treasury and keeping more and more Mr. Speaker, I heard the gentleman so you will have a health care program money in Washington, DC and not al- from Massachusetts [Mr. FRANK] stand when you retire. You are paying that lowing it to get out. up here and talk about the regressive- for a benefit. You cannot have a tax Again, I challenge anybody, and I es- ness of the Social Security payroll tax. credit if you do not pay taxes. pecially challenge the ranking member Well, what is the payroll tax and why What this simply says, and I think who I am sure does sing really good was it established under Franklin Dela- the distinction, the difference we are H4656 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 1997 drawing here is that we want to bring ton in 16 years, is aimed at American Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield tax relief to people who are paying middle-class taxpayers who are bearing 6 minutes to the gentleman from New taxes, and they want to increase pay- the biggest burden today. Jersey [Mr. PALLONE]. ments, welfare payments, to people What does this plan do? It provides Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I lis- who are not. It is that simple. You can- an IRA for parents who pay taxes who tened to the gentleman from Georgia, not have it that way. If you are going want to send their children to college. and I want to point out exactly the to have a tax credit, you have to pay It lets them save tax-free. It provides a type of person that the Democrats are taxes. tax credit for parents who are sending trying to help, the person who is out I used the illustration last night, if their children on to college or other there working. we told people with red hair they were postsecondary education. It provides a We mentioned the Georgia police- going to get a tax credit, my daughter $500 per child tax credit to American man. This is from the Wall Street would qualify. But she does not pay families that make under, roughly, Journal today. This is a starting police taxes, so she cannot get a tax credit. $100,000. officer in Gwinnett County, GA, coinci- The Medicare and Social Security pay- Fourth, homeowners, it allows some- dentally part of Speaker GINGRICH’s district. He is paid $23,078 a year. If his ment are retirement programs that one to sell their home, and 95 percent family has two kids, it gets $1,668 in people pay into so they will get a bene- of the American people who own homes earned income tax credit, this is the fit later on. They cannot have a tax are going to be able to sell their homes deduction we were talking about be- credit unless they are paying taxes. and not pay any tax on the gain from fore, which offsets his $675 in Federal I would say to my colleagues here the sale of their home. taxes, and yields a check for $993. But that we have a definition problem. We What we are trying to do here is to have a definition problem here, because that family pays $1,760 in payroll taxes, try to help every taxpayer in the coun- and another $354 in Federal excise we have to draw a distinction between try at every stage of their life. Whether a tax credit and a government pay- taxes. That is even after this deduction they are parents with children, trying that we are talking about. ment. The earned income tax credit to raise them, parents with children today, 80 percent of it is a payment. It The out-of-pocket Federal taxes for trying to send them to college, whether this family would be at least $1,121 a is not a credit. Let us make that very, it is people trying to save for their own very clear. So people who are currently year, and in reality, more like $2,800 a retirement, with our cut in capital year. What we are saying is that that getting an earned income tax credit are gains taxes and the cut in the taxes on already offsetting the payroll tax they policeman right now, under this Repub- the sale of their home, we are trying to lican proposal, does not get that $500 pay in Social Security and Medicare. help all taxpayers. This is good policy. What the gentleman is saying is that deduction, the child tax credit. That Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 person is paying payroll taxes to the he wants to give them another $500 minutes to my colleague, the gen- payment on top of them. That is not a Federal Government, excise taxes to tleman from Georgia [Mr. NORWOOD]. tax credit, that is a government pay- the Federal Government. The gen- Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank tleman is saying that that Georgia po- ment. There is an important distinc- the gentleman for yielding time to me. liceman, who is out there every day on tion here which needs to be made. I am Mr. Speaker, I think for a long time the line, is a welfare recipient. That is getting tired of listening to the rhet- we have been trying to make an effort exactly what the gentleman is saying. oric on the other side. This ought to be a great day for to let people who pay taxes keep more That is what the Democrats are saying is not right. America. They ought to be working of their own hard-earned money. Yet Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, will the with us balancing the budget, lowering all we hear is that all of this is for the rich. Let us talk about what ‘‘rich’’ gentleman yield? taxes. I was just looking at some sta- Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gen- tistics from the IRS here. Thirty-seven means. Mr. Speaker, 2.4 million elementary tleman from Texas. percent of the taxes are paid by people Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, we are who make less than $75,000. The bal- and high school teachers have family incomes, and they are considered rich; of course back here today to discuss ance, 63 percent, is paid by those who another wreckconciliation bill. We are make more than that. Yet 76 percent of 1.7 million union members have family incomes, and they are considered rich; having another big wreck in Congress, the tax relief in this package goes to even bigger than the one yesterday; 8.1 million Federal, State, and local people who make less than $75,000. and of course it is true that the liberals government workers have family in- This is a good day for America, it is in Washington are causing this wreck, comes, and they are considered rich; a good day for taxpayers. It is a good those who are so liberal with the truth 120,000 editors and reporters across the day for this institution. We ought to be that they defy reality. working together to get this job done. country are considered rich; and 4.2 I would ask the gentleman, in light Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 million mechanics and repairmen and of some of those who had been so lib- minutes to the gentleman from Ohio construction workers have family in- eral in the truth, if he is aware of a [Mr. BOEHNER]. comes that under the administration’s time in American history, in the entire Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I think definition of rich, they are considered history of this country, when a major- we need to take a deep breath and all rich. ity party would come to this floor and calm down a little bit, because all we I would like to ask, if I might, for ask to adjourn for a week or 10 days are talking about doing is allowing the anybody on that side to stand up and and not have passed one single appro- American people to keep a little more when they say we are returning money priations bill, not one? Is the gen- of what they earn so they do not have to the rich, define what they mean by tleman aware of any time in American to send it to Washington. rich. If Members believe we should history when that has happened? I understand some of my friends on have everybody receive a $500 per child We are not talking about passing the other side of the aisle do not really tax credit, even those who do not pay them automatically, but not passing a want to do that because they want taxes, they should be honest enough to single bill; but they are leaving, are more Washington spending. I do not call it what they are talking about. they not, presenting a present to the denigrate the position that they have They are talking about a welfare pro- limousine crowd in giving them a tax taken for 60 years, that Washington gram. break? I am sure the gentleman from has the answers and we have to get this What we are trying to do is return New Jersey, like me, we have nothing money to Washington so Washington some of the hard-earned money that against limousines, we have nothing can do great things for us. Most of us working people in this country earn against country clubs. We just think if in this Chamber, Democrats and Re- who work every day. If Members want tax cuts are so good, why not share publicans, believe it is time to allow other children and other families who them with the working families of the American people to make more of are not paying taxes to have a $500 per America and give them a chance to those decisions on their own. child tax credit, say so, but be honest climb up the economic ladder and have So this package today that lowers about it. Call it what it is. It is a wel- a limousine of their own? Is that not taxes, the first tax cut from Washing- fare program. correct? June 26, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4657 Mr. PALLONE. Exactly. I appreciate his kids to college, he is going to get NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION BIG SPENDERS that. the maximum tax break, and that if he OF 1993 Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. goes on to invest in a small business at ALABAMA Speaker, will the gentleman yield? some point, he is again going to get a Rep. Tom Bevill. Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gen- maximum tax break. Rep. Robert E. Cramer. tleman from California. Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, will the Rep. Earl F. Hilliard. Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. gentleman yield? ARIZONA Speaker, under the original Contract Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gen- Rep. Karan English. With America, that police officer was tleman from Oregon. Rep. Ed Pastor. going to get that tax credit. But what Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, our col- ARKANSAS they decided this year was they wanted leagues on the other side are so con- Sen. Dale Bumpers. to give more money to the wealthy, so cerned that a starting police officer at Sen. David Pryor. they had to cut that police officer out $23,000 or a young teacher at $23,000 Rep. Ray Thornton. of their tax plan, but that was the might get a tax credit for their chil- CALIFORNIA original promise in the Contract With dren, but they are not concerned that Sen. Barbara Boxer. America. They just decided they would the changes they are making in the al- Sen. Dianne Feinstein. rather deal with the people on Wall ternative minimum tax would give tax Rep. Xavier Becerra. Street instead of the people on Main rebates to large corporations like Rep. Howard L. Berman. Street. Texas Utilities, that did not pay a Rep. George E. Brown. Mr. PALLONE. I would add also, Mr. Rep. Ronald V. Dellums. penny in Federal taxes. Rep. Julian C. Dixon. Speaker, that Senator LOTT in his Re- The only reason they paid $19 million Rep. Don Edwards. publican plan early this year, just like on their $1 billion profit was the AMT, Rep. Anna G. Eshoo. the Contract With America, also prom- and their repeal of the AMT will give Rep. Sam Farr. ised that child credit to that Georgia them a tax rebate of $18 million on Rep. Vic Fazio. policeman. So now all of a sudden the taxes they did not even pay, and we do Rep. Bob Filner. Republican leadership has changed its not have a penny for the police officer Rep. Dan Hamburg. mind, because they want to give that or a penny for the young teacher. It is Rep. Jane Harman. Rep. Tom Lantos. money to the fat cats, to their wealthy outrageous. Rep. Matthew G. Martinez. contributors. Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, will Rep. Robert T. Matsui. Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield? Rep. George Miller. the gentleman yield? Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gen- Rep. Norman Y. Mineta. Mr. PALLONE. I yield to the gentle- tleman from Connecticut. Rep. Nancy Pelosi. woman from Michigan. Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, the Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard. Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I find question is about choices: are we going Rep. Pete Stark. it humorous, as a new Member coming to give the policeman a choice of buy- Rep. Esteban E. Torres. Rep. Walter R. Tucker. in in January from Michigan, to hear ing his family and kids new clothes for the word ‘‘liberal’’ thrown around all Rep. Maxine Waters. school or having a decent diet, or is Rep. Henry A. Waxman. the time. I want Members to know that somebody going to be able to extend Rep. Lynn Woolsey. for someone coming from Michigan their European vacation going over on COLORADO who was in the State Senate, I spon- the Concorde? Where is this House at? sored the State’s largest property tax Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Are we going to help people who have Rep. David E. Skaggs. cut as a Democrat. I understand what to take care of kids and the basic needs CONNECTICUT middle-class tax cuts look like and feel of a family, while the wealthiest Amer- Sen. Christopher J. Dodd. like. This is not it. icans are trying to figure out whether As the gentleman knows, we are Rep. Rosa DeLauro. they can extend their trip to London Rep. Sam Gejdenson. talking about what we want to see hap- for the weekend? Rep. Barbara B. Kennelly. pen for average folks, to put money in Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 their pocket, to send their kids to DELAWARE minute to the gentleman from New Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. school, pay for child care, be able to York [Mr. SOLOMON]. get a tax break when they sell their FLORIDA b home, be able to get a tax break on 1115 Sen. Bob Graham. their small business, if someone passes Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, it Rep. Jim Bacchus. away, be able to get a tax break on shows that some people are watching Rep. Corrine Brown. C–SPAN. I just got a call from one of Rep. Peter Deutsch. their family-owned business and their Rep. Sam M. Gibbons. family-owned farm. What we are talk- my constituents making $23,500. He Rep. Alcee L. Hastings. ing about here is how we make sure said he hears Members on the Demo- Rep. Harry A. Johnston. that the majority of the dollars that crat side railing about the excise taxes Rep. Carrie P. Meek. keep this country going, to create jobs, and the payroll taxes. He said, ‘‘Why Rep. Pete Peterson. go directly into the pockets of middle don’t you cut those, JERRY?’’ I said, I Rep. Karen L. Thurman. class Americans. Is that not what we will be glad to. Just let them make GEORGIA are talking about? these amendments in order, offer them Rep. Sanford D. Bishop. Mr. PALLONE. Absolutely. The gen- and we will accept them. Rep. George Darden. tlewoman pointed out, we were only We want to cut everybody’s taxes, all Rep. John Lewis. talking about Federal taxes, payroll kinds of taxes, and that is why we have Rep. Cynthia A. McKinney. taxes, excise taxes. That Georgia po- got this bill. The gentleman from Mas- HAWAII liceman is probably paying property sachusetts [Mr. MOAKLEY], the gentle- Sen. Daniel K. Akaka. taxes. He may be paying other State or woman from Connecticut [Ms. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. local taxes. They are saying he is on DELAURO], the gentleman from Califor- Rep. Neil Abercrombie. Rep. Patsy T. Mink. welfare. nia [Mr. MILLER], the gentleman from Ms. STABENOW. Not only that, he Maryland [Mr. WYNN], the gentleman ILLINOIS probably is investing in a home. Most from Massachusetts [Mr. FRANK], the Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun. middle class Americans are investing gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. Sen. Paul Simon. in savings through equity in their GEJDENSON], the gentleman from Or- Rep. Cardiss Collins. Rep. Richard J. Durbin. homes, and we want to make sure they egon [Mr. DEFAZIO], all the bigger Rep. Lane Evans. are getting the tax breaks; that when spenders in the Congress, according to Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez. you talk about capital gains tax cuts, the National Taxpayers Union. Rep. Mel Reynolds. that he is going to get protected when I include the entire list of big spend- Rep. Dan Rostenkowski. he sells his home; if he wants to send ers for the RECORD. Rep. Bobby L. Rush. H4658 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 1997

Rep. George E. Sangmeister. Rep. Eliot L. Engel. WASHINGTON Rep. Sidney R. Yates. Rep. Floyd H. Flake. Sen. Patty Murray. INDIANA Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey. Rep. Norm Dicks. Rep. George J. Hochbrueckner. Rep. Frank McCloskey. Rep. Mike Kreidler. Rep. Nita M. Lowey. Rep. Peter J. Visclosky. Rep. Jim McDermott. Rep. Thomas J. Manton. Rep. Al Swift. IOWA Rep. Michael R. McNulty. Rep. Jolene Unsoeld. Sen. Tom Harkin. Rep. Jerrold Nadler. WEST VIRGINIA Rep. Neal Smith. Rep. Major R. Owens. Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Rep. Charles B. Rangel. KANSAS Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV. Rep. Charles E. Schumer. Rep. Dan Glickman. Rep. Alan B. Mollahan. Rep. Jose E. Serrano. KENTUCKY Rep. Nick J. Rahall. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter. Rep. Bob Wise. Sen. Wendell H. Ford. Rep. Edolphus Towns. Rep. Romano L. Mazzoli. Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez. WISCONSIN Rep. Gerald D. Kleczka. LOUISIANA NORTH CAROLINA Rep. David R. Obey. Sen. John B. Breaux. Rep. Eva Clayton Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston. Rep. W.G. Hefner. Rep. Cleo Fields. Rep. Stephen L. Neal. minute to the gentleman from Georgia Rep. William J. Jefferson. Rep. David Price. [Mr. NORWOOD]. Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise MAINE Rep. Charlie Rose. Rep. Melvin Watt. to tell my friend from New Jersey, the Sen. George J. Mitchell. Rep. Thomas H. Andrews. OHIO problem with that Georgia policeman is that he most assuredly will receive MARYLAND Sen. John Glenn. Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum. some tax relief on this, because you Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski. Rep. Douglas Applegate. have raised taxes so high over the last Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes. Rep. Sherrod Brown. 20 years that I guarantee you his wife Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin. Rep. Tony P. Hall. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer. is having to work, too. So when we Rep. Tom Sawyer. combine those incomes, that family Rep. Kweisi Mfume. Rep. Louis Stokes. Rep. Albert R. Wynn. Rep. Ted Strickland. will indeed, and I remind you again MASSACHUSETTS that 2.4 million teachers are going to OKLAHOMA get some tax relief, 4.2 million mechan- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Rep. Mike Synar. Sen. John Kerry. ics and repairmen and construction Rep. Barney Frank. OREGON workers are going to get some tax re- Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy. Rep. Elizabeth Furse. lief. I know you call everybody rich Rep. Edward J. Markey. Rep. Mike Kopetski. who has a job, but those are the people Rep. Joe Moakley. Rep. Ron Wyden. who are paying into this Government, Rep. Richard E. Neal. PENNSYLVANIA and it is high time we let them have Rep. John W. Olver. Sen. Harris Wofford. Rep. Gerry E. Studds. some more of their own income be- Rep. Lucien E. Blackwell. cause most assuredly they can spend it MICHIGAN Rep. Robert A. Borski. Rep. William J. Coyne. much wiser than we do up here. Sen. Carl Levin. Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield Sen. Donald W. Riegle Jr. Rep. Thomas M. Foglietta. 21⁄2 minutes to the gentleman from New Rep. David E. Bonior. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski. Rep. Bob Carr. Rep. John P. Murtha. Jersey [Mr. PALLONE]. Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins. RHODE ISLAND Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I want- Rep. John Conyers. Sen. Claiborne Pell. ed to enter into the RECORD the study Rep. John D. Dingell. Rep. Jack Reed. from the Citizens for Tax Justice that Rep. William D. Ford. SOUTH CAROLINA shows just how many children are ex- Rep. Dale E. Kildee. cluded from this tax credit and point Rep. Sander M. Levin. Sen. Ernest F. Hollings. Sen. James E. Clyburn. out that in the State of Georgia, the MINNESOTA Sen. Butler Derrick. previous speaker’s home State, the Re- Sen. Paul Wellstone. Rep. John M. Spratt. publican tax plan excludes 49 to 52 per- Rep. James L. Oberstar. SOUTH DAKOTA cent of Georgia kids. The Citizens for Rep. Martin Olav Sabo. Tax Justice study says that the House Rep. Bruce F. Vento. Sen. Tom Daschle. TENNESSEE plan, the Republican plan, would ex- MISSISSIPPI Sen. Harlan Mathews. clude 52 percent of Georgia’s children Rep. G.V. Montgomery. Sen. Jim Sasser. and the Senate tax plan would exclude Rep. Bennie Thompson. Rep. Harold E. Ford. 49 percent of Georgia’s children. They Rep. Jamie L. Whitten. TEXAS would not receive it, including that po- MISSOURI Rep. Jack Brooks. lice officer. Rep. William L. Clay. Rep. John Bryant. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman Rep. Richard A. Gephardt. Rep. Jim Chapman. from Maine [Mr. ALLEN]. Rep. Ike Skelton. Rep. Ronald D. Coleman. Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Rep. Harold L. Volkmer. Rep. E. de la Garza. the gentleman for yielding. I just want Rep. Alan Wheat. Rep. Martin Frost. to refer to a couple of other States MONTANA Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez. here, first my home State of Maine, the Sen. Max Baucus. Rep. Gene Green. Citizens for Tax Justice report indi- Rep. Pat Williams. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. cates that 45 percent of the children in NEVADA Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz. Rep. J.J. Pickle. the State of Maine will not get the ben- Sen. Harry Reid. Rep. Frank Tejeda. efit of this $500-per-child tax credit. A Rep. James Bilbray. Rep. Craig Washington. little bit of that is because of age but NEW JERSEY Rep. Charles Wilson. almost all of it is because of this in- Rep. Robert Menendez. VERMONT come floor. Rep. Donald M. Payne. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy. The gentleman from South Dakota Rep. Robert G. Torricelli. Rep. Bernard Sanders. who was speaking earlier should recog- NEW MEXICO VIRGINIA nize that the number for his State is Rep. Bill Richardson. Rep. Rick Boucher. the same; 45 percent of the children in NEW YORK Rep. Leslie L. Byrne. that State will be ineligible for the Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Rep. James P. Moran. $500-per-child tax credit and it is the Rep. Gary L. Ackerman. Rep. Robert C. Scott. same reason. The fact is that this tax June 26, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4659 credit, this tax bill is weighted very who have joined as cosponsors of H.R. dent’s plan. Indeed, the gentleman heavily for the wealthiest people in 14 have unfortunately now been drawn from California [Mr. MILLER] has been this society. It provides 41 percent of in by their party to this trap of saying concerned about the children being ex- its benefits to the top 1 percent of tax- that this is simply a tax cut for the cluded. The Republican plan in his own payers and those in lower tax brackets, rich. Nothing could be further from the district covers 24,735 more children the lowest 20 percent, are expected to truth. We will hear it time and time than the President’s plan. pay maybe an additional $60 a year. again that 76 percent of the benefits go The President and the Treasury De- They do not get the benefits of this. to people earning between $20,000 and partment have been simply unfair to I agree with my friend from Florida $75,000. Ninety-three percent of the this debate because they recalculated on one point he said; this is not about benefits go to people with incomes of wealth. And in fact they included in protecting the poor. It is not. It is less than $100,000. your income to consider how wealthy about protecting hard-working middle- So the fact is, we are there trying you are such items as employer costs income Americans and making sure desperately to help those struggling such as payroll taxes, fringe benefits, that they get the benefit, they get middle-income wage earners create and pensions. Their proposal says that some of the benefit of this tax bill, and greater opportunities, improve their those people must consider that as they are not getting it now. quality of life, and things like a capital their income, even though they do not Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, we have gains tax rate reduction will do just get it, and goes so far as to say that if a statistic here that just shows you that. So I just want to say that it sad- they could rent their home out, the that the billionaire, Bill Gates, would dens me that we have seen the debate home they are living in and buying, get capital gains and estate tax reduc- come down to this level. that 10,000 a year must be considered tions and even a new IRA provision Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield income also. that would let him take a $4,000 tax the balance of my time to the gen- Under their calculation of income break for educational expenses for his tleman from Maine [Mr. BALDACCI]. and who is wealthy, 2.4 million elemen- kids, but that Georgia policeman mak- Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, we tary and high school teachers, over ing $23,000 is denied a tax credit for his have been down this road before, where half of the teachers in this Nation are kids. we were offered trickle-down tax cuts Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentle- considered under their standards rich; 1 in the 1980’s, that benefited the very out of every 10 union members, 1.7 mil- woman from Michigan [Ms. STABENOW]. well to do and did not get down to Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I lion of them, under their standards are working men and women and those think it is important for people that rich; 8.1 million Federal, State, and families. Those incomes have been are watching today, it gets very con- local government workers under their stagnant. They have not gotten any re- fusing when we are talking about a lot measurement are rich. The honest de- wards for their work. Their tax rates of different statistics about where the duction is this, the Joint Committee and tax burdens have increased. What tax relief goes. The reality is that in on Taxation has made it very clear, 93 we need to do is to better focus the tax this, in the Republican proposal, we are percent of the benefits go to families breaks on working men and women, as talking about the top 5 percent of with incomes under $100,000. Indeed the the Democratic substitute has done, Americans who make $250,000 or more. largest part of this package is the child That is what we are talking about in and not to allow trickle-down to hap- tax credit, the single largest part of terms of where the bulk of the tax re- pen again. All that happened with the benefit is the child tax credit and lief goes. trickle-down is the heavy lifting was that is capped at $110,000 for couples Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 done by the working men and women also and $55,000 for singles. So this is a minutes to the gentleman from Califor- and the people who are trying to pro- fair plan. It is fair for all. nia [Mr. DREIER]. vide for their families at the expense of For the rest of this day, those of you Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I thank those who were getting heavy from watching this debate are going to hear my friend from Atlanta for yielding me their lifting. the same class warfare, the same argu- the time. If we are going to reform welfare, if ment that the rich are benefiting when Mr. Speaker, I want to say that this we are going to reward work, we are in fact the Joint Committee on Tax- has become a very, very sad time for going to need to make sure that work- ation makes it clear that 76 percent me, having worked since the beginning ing men and women have the opportu- goes to people with family incomes less of this Congress and actually in many nities of tax credits for education, tax than $75,000 a year. They are going to previous Congresses on this issue of the credits for health care, to make sure be very surprised to discover how capital gains tax cut. I have about 165 that they can provide for their families wealthy they are tonight. Democrats and Republicans who joined and not go down through the trickle- But when we pass this we will have as cosponsors of H.R. 14. down economic theories that we went for the first time in 16 years provided The gentleman from Florida [Mr. through in the early 1980’s. decent, honest, and across-the-board SCARBOROUGH] has been one of our They got nothing but debt and deficit tax relief for all Americans at every great fighters on behalf of reducing the and that left people out of work or at stage in life. top rate on capital gains, knowing full very low incomes. So I think the im- Mr. Speaker, I move the previous well that it is not a tax cut for the portant thing to do is to not support question on the resolution. rich. We have been able to successfully the rule and to not support the pro- The previous question was ordered. throw that us-versus-them class war- posal that has been put forward. Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I ask fare mentality out throughout the de- Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield unanimous consent that if an elec- bate on capital gains. We got the Presi- myself the balance of my time. dent in the agreement to acknowledge The people watching this on C–SPAN tronic vote on House Concurrent Reso- that reducing the top rate on capital must be thoroughly confused by now, lution 108 occurs immediately after an gains will in fact benefit the middle-in- because according to the comments electronic vote on another question, come wage earner. In fact a study that from the other side, virtually every- then the minimum time for that elec- we did found that the average family of body in America is wealthy. They have tronic vote on agreeing to the concur- four, if we were to get to a 14-or 15-per- been quoting all day Citizens for Tax rent resolution may be 5 minutes. cent rate, would see their take-home Justice, a so-called nonpartisan think The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there pay increase by $1,500. Those are the tank which is in fact connected to objection to the request of the gen- ones who benefit from things like a Ralph Nader. The American people tleman from Georgia? capital gains tax rate reduction. Yes, ought to know that. There was no objection. there are people today in this country The fact of the matter is the Herit- GENERAL LEAVE who are unemployed and we need to get age Foundation and other studies such Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask capital invested so that we can create as the Tax Foundation have said that unanimous consent that all Members job opportunities for them. the Republican plan covers 11 more, 11 may have 5 legislative days to extend So the reason this is a sad day is that million, the Republican plan covers 11 their remarks during the debate on many of my Democratic colleagues million more children than the Presi- House Resolution 176. H4660 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 26, 1997 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there count. But it sometimes neglects to do so. It ing voted to increase or reduce spending on objection to the request of the gen- incorrectly gives members who voted for the voice votes. tleman from Massachusetts? Amtrak reauthorization bill and the trans- The NTUF methodology on these voice votes has a more damaging effect on Demo- There was no objection. portation appropriations bill credit twice for the same Amtrak cuts. This also is true of crats than on Republicans. NTUF scores Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I in- cuts in the Interstate Commerce Commis- voice votes on amendments to some bills. If clude for the RECORD the following: sion. the members voted for final passage of the METHODOLOGY PROBLEMS AND MULTIBILLION NTUF also overstates the cuts in the FY bill, NTUF then cancels out the voice vote. DOLLAR ERRORS PRODUCE LARGE DISTOR- 1996 agriculture appropriations bill by $5 bil- But if the member voted against final pas- TIONS IN TAXPAYERS UNION RATINGS lion due to an error involving farm price sup- sage, NTUF leaves the voice vote in its tally. If you are in the minority, you are more The tally of Congressional voting records ports. Still other problems in NTUF’s methodol- likely to be charged with the cost of voice which the National Taxpayers Union Foun- vote amendments that add spending, as most dation released today is marred by flawed ogy stem from the fact that NTUF counts votes for authorization bills for discre- of the amendments that NTUF counts did, methodology and multi-billion dollar errors, since you are more likely not to vote for according to a Center on Budget and Policy tionary programs as votes to increase or de- crease spending even though authorization final passage of the bill. Priorities analysis of the NTUF tally. NTUF’s use of voice votes is different now The deficiencies in the NTUF analysis are bills do not cause discretionary spending to increase or decrease. Only the discretionary than it was in 1994. At that time, it did not sufficiently serious as to make its tally of score voice votes on amendments. spending caps and appropriations bills do little value, the Center said. The Center also The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that NTUF’s mistakes and meth- that. is a nonpartisan research organization and odological errors tend to have a greater ad- LARGEST DEFICIT REDUCTION PLAN NOT GIVEN policy institute that conducts research and verse effect on members of the minority APPROPRIATE CREDIT analysis on a range of government policies party than on members of the majority While NTUF sometimes presents its vote and programs, and specializes in issues relat- party and that some of its interpretations of tally as a measure of fiscal responsibility, ed to fiscal policy. Is is supported primarily its vote tally appear to be marked by par- this is not accurate. NTUF ignores many by foundation grants. tisan leanings. votes to reduce or increase the deficit. PARLIAMENTARY INQUIRIES ENTITLEMENT TREATMENT MAKES MANY WHO NTUF does not count votes to increase or Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I have a decrease government subsidies that are pro- VOTED TO REDUCE SPENDING LOOK LIKE THEY parliamentary inquiry. vided through the tax code, which many ex- VOTED TO INCREASE SPENDING The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- perts, the General Accounting Office, the The NTUF tallies are dominated by enti- Joint Tax Committee, and individuals such tleman will state it. tlement spending. But the NTUF entitle- as Alan Greenspan call ‘‘tax expenditures.’’ Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, if those ment spending figures are flawed. Most nota- If a member votes to cut health programs to extensions of remarks on this debate bly, the cost of federal entitlement programs fund a corporate tax subsidy without reduc- are admitted to the Record, must they will automatically rise $54.5 billion between ing the deficit, NTUF rates the member as be on the subject which is the resolu- FY 1995 and FY 1996 because of such factors voting to cut spending. A member who votes tion under consideration, or can they as the annual cost-of-living adjustment in against such a measure does less well in the Social Security, veterans, and other benefits, be on the tax bill? NTUF rankings. The SPEAKER pro tempore. It would the increase in the number of Americans This approach adversely affects the reaching age 65 and qualifying for Social Se- be on this subject. rankings of a substantial number of House Mr. LINDER. They must be on this curity and Medicare, and normal year-to- and Senate members who voted for the ‘‘Coa- year increases in doctor and hospital fees. subject, or they would be out of order? lition’’ budget. The Coalition budget, devel- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The re- NTUF charges all Members of Congress with oped by a group of House Democrats, reduced voting to increase entitlement spending by the deficit more than the Republican rec- quest specified that it covered the sub- this $54.5 billion, although no such votes oc- onciliation bill. While the Republican plan ject of the resolution. curred. This distorts the NTUF tallies. cut programs more, it also contained large Mr. LINDER. On the subject of the One hundred fifty-one of the 172 House tax cuts, including expansion of a number of resolution. Democrats, the one House independent, and corporate and individual tax expenditures. Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, I have a par- the one House Republican who NTUF says By contract, the Coalition budget contained liamentary inquiry. voted to increase spending in 1995—as well as no tax cuts and reduced some tax expendi- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- all 28 Senate Democrats and the one Senate tures. Although the Coalition budget reduced tleman will state it. Republican who NTUF said voted to raise the deficit more, members voting for it fare Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, is that say- spending—should have been tallied as voting less well in the NTUF rankings than mem- to decrease spending. These are the members ing that anyone submitting remarks in bers voting for the Republican budget. the context that they have been offered whom the NTUF rating shows as voting to Particularly serious is NTUF’s increase spending but by less than $54.5 bil- mischaracterization of ‘‘Blue Dog’’ Demo- during the last hour would not be per- lion. When the automatic increases that oc- crats who supported the Coalition budget as mitted or that someone would be try- curred without any vote and that were due being opponents of cuts in discretionary ing to censor them in order to get them to factors such as the Social Security COLA spending. Many House members voted into the RECORD? are put to the side, these members voted to against various appropriations bills that The SPEAKER pro tempore. The lower spending. would cut discretionary spending because of issue before the House is on the propri- Most citizens who hear about the NTUF ‘‘riders’’ attached to these bills that would ety of the resolution making in orders tally will assume these members voted to weaken environmental protection and health a fourth of July recess beginning make programs more costly than they would and safety standards—or because the mem- otherwise be. Few will understand that today. Under House rules, any remarks bers disagreed with where the discretionary that are relevant to the rubric of that NTUF is charging these members with vot- spending cuts were being made—not because ing to increase spending merely because the the members opposed cutting discretionary resolution would be in order and would member did not vote to cancel Social Secu- spending. come within the unanimous-consent re- rity cost-of-living adjustments, deny Medi- In fact, a number of members who voted quest and printed in distinctive style. care benefits to those newly turning 65, or against various appropriations bills voted for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The make cuts yielding equivalent savings. the Coalition budget, which contained bind- question is on the resolution. NTUF EXAGGERATES SIZE OF SOME SPENDING ing discretionary spending caps that would The question was taken; and the CUTS force more than $300 billion in discretionary Speaker pro tempore announced that Those members whom NTUF shows as vot- spending reductions over seven years. NTUF the ayes appeared to have it. ing to reduce spending would be given credit fails to count votes to lower the binding dis- Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I object for reducing spending by a larger amount if cretionary spending caps as votes to cut to the vote on the ground that a spending, an egregious error. This affects all this $54.4 billion in automatic entitlement quorum is not present and make the spending were not counted against them. At members who voted for budgets that would reduce the caps. point of order that a quorum is not the same time, NTUF gives many of these present. NTUF’S REMARKABLE SCORING OF VOICE VOTES same members more credit than they are due The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evi- for reducing spending in other areas because NTUF ‘‘scores’’ a number of voice votes, of mistakes in counting votes for various even though not all members may have been dently a quorum is not present. bills the House and Senate passed. in favor of the measure in question. In this The Sergeant at Arms will notify ab- When a member voted both for an author- area, NTUF has altered its methodology sent Members. ization bill and an appropriations bill that since 1994. The vote was taken by electronic de- cover the same programs, NTUF is supposed Even members who were out of town and vice, and there were—yeas 230, nays to make an adjustment to avoid a double- missed the vote altogether are scored as hav- 194, not voting 10, as follows: June 26, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4661 [Roll No. 242] Evans Lewis (GA) Rodriguez adjourns at the close of business on Thurs- Farr Lipinski Roemer day, June 26, 1997, Friday, June 27, 1997, Sat- YEAS—230 Fattah Lofgren Rothman urday, June 28, 1997, or Sunday, June 29, 1997, Aderholt Gillmor Pappas Fazio Lowey Roybal-Allard pursuant to a motion made by the Majority Filner Luther Sabo Archer Gilman Parker Leader, or his designee, in accordance with Armey Goodlatte Pastor Foglietta Maloney (CT) Sanchez Ford Maloney (NY) Sanders this concurrent resolution, it stand recessed Bachus Goodling Paul or adjourned until noon on Monday, July 7, Baker Goss Paxon Frank (MA) Manton Sandlin Ballenger Graham Pease Frost Markey Sawyer 1997, or such time on that day as may be Barr Granger Peterson (PA) Furse Martinez Schumer specified by the Majority Leader or his des- Barrett (NE) Greenwood Petri Gejdenson Mascara Scott ignee in the motion to recess or adjourn, or Bartlett Gutknecht Pickering Gephardt Matsui Serrano until noon on the second day after members Barton Hansen Pitts Goode McCarthy (MO) Sherman are notified to reassemble pursuant to sec- Bass Hastert Pombo Gordon McDermott Sisisky tion 2 of this concurrent resolution, which- Bateman Hastings (WA) Porter Green McGovern Skaggs Gutierrez McHale Skelton ever occurs first. Bereuter Hayworth Portman SEC. 2. The Speaker of the House and the Bilbray Hefley Pryce (OH) Hall (OH) McIntyre Slaughter Hall (TX) McKinney Smith, Adam Majority Leader of the Senate, acting jointly Bilirakis Herger Quinn after consultation with the Minority Leader Bliley Hill Radanovich Hamilton McNulty Snyder Blumenauer Hilleary Ramstad Harman Meehan Spratt of the House and the Minority Leader of the Blunt Hobson Redmond Hastings (FL) Meek Stabenow Senate, shall notify the Members of the Boehlert Hoekstra Regula Hefner Menendez Stark House and the Senate, respectively, to reas- Boehner Horn Riggs Hilliard Millender- Stenholm semble whenever, in their opinion, the public Bonilla Hostettler Riley Hinchey McDonald Stokes interest shall warrant it. Hinojosa Miller (CA) Strickland Bono Houghton Rogan The concurrent resolution was agreed Boswell Hulshof Rogers Holden Minge Stupak Brady Hunter Rohrabacher Hooley Mink Tanner to. Bryant Hutchinson Ros-Lehtinen Hoyer Moakley Tauscher A motion to reconsider was laid on Bunning Hyde Roukema Jackson (IL) Mollohan Taylor (MS) Jackson-Lee Moran (VA) Thompson the table. Burr Inglis Royce f Burton Istook Ryun (TX) Nadler Thurman Jefferson Neal Tierney Buyer Jenkins Salmon SUPREME COURT LETS LINE-ITEM Callahan Johnson (CT) Sanford John Oberstar Torres Calvert Johnson, Sam Saxton Johnson (WI) Obey Towns VETO LAW STAND Johnson, E. B. Olver Turner Camp Jones Scarborough (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given Campbell Kelly Schaefer, Dan Kanjorski Ortiz Velazquez Canady Kim Schaffer, Bob Kaptur Pallone Vento permission to address the House for 1 Cannon King (NY) Sensenbrenner Kennedy (MA) Pascrell Visclosky minute and to revise and extend his re- Chabot Kingston Sessions Kennedy (RI) Payne Waters marks and include extraneous mate- Kennelly Pelosi Watt (NC) Chambliss Klink Shadegg rial.) Chenoweth Klug Shaw Kildee Peterson (MN) Waxman Christensen Knollenberg Shays Kilpatrick Pickett Wexler Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I sub- Coble Kolbe Shimkus Kind (WI) Pomeroy Weygand mit for the RECORD the entire text of Coburn LaHood Shuster Kleczka Poshard Wise the Supreme Court decision throwing Kucinich Price (NC) Woolsey Collins Largent Skeen out the challenge to the line-item veto Combest Latham Smith (MI) LaFalce Rahall Wynn Cook LaTourette Smith (NJ) Lampson Rangel Yates by a vote of 7 to 2. Cooksey Lazio Smith (OR) Lantos Reyes SUPREME COURT LETS LINE-ITEM VETO LAW Levin Rivers Crane Leach Smith (TX) STAND Crapo Lewis (CA) Smith, Linda NOT VOTING—10 JUSTICES RULE SENATORS LACKED STANDING TO Cunningham Lewis (KY) Snowbarger CHALLENGE THE LAW Davis (VA) Linder Solomon Bentsen Flake Rush Deal Livingston Souder Castle Gonzalez Schiff WASHINGTON (AllPolitcs, June 26).—In a DeLay LoBiondo Spence Cox Kasich victory for line-item veto supporters, the Su- Diaz-Balart Lucas Stearns Cubin Owens preme Court ruled today that a group of sen- Dickey Manzullo Stump b 1149 ators who challenged the law did not have Dixon McCarthy (NY) Sununu legal standing to do so. The law will likely Doolittle McCollum Talent Mrs. ROUKEMA and Mr. MCINTOSH face a second constitutional review, but for Dreier McCrery Tauzin changed their vote from ‘‘nay’’ to now it stands. Duncan McDade Taylor (NC) The line-item veto, approved by Congress Dunn McHugh Thomas ‘‘yea.’’ Ehlers McInnis Thornberry So the resolution was agreed to. in March 1996, allows the president to strike Ehrlich McIntosh Thune The result of the vote was announced individual spending items from larger meas- ures. Emerson McKeon Tiahrt as above recorded. English Metcalf Traficant A group of congressional lawmakers, led by Ensign Mica Upton A motion to reconsider was laid on Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, opposed Everett Miller (FL) Walsh the table. the law and sued the Clinton Administration Ewing Molinari Wamp f on grounds that the law usurped congres- Fawell Moran (KS) Watkins sional authority to write the nation’s laws. Foley Morella Watts (OK) PROVIDING FOR ADJOURNMENT ‘‘After Congress, made up of 535 individ- Forbes Murtha Weldon (FL) uals, passes a law and sends it to the presi- Fowler Myrick Weldon (PA) OF THE HOUSE FROM THURS- Fox Nethercutt Weller DAY, JUNE 26, 1997, TO TUESDAY, dent, he signs it into law,’’ Byrd said. The Franks (NJ) Neumann White JULY 8, 1997, AND RECESS OR AD- line-item veto ‘‘would allow him to change Frelinghuysen Ney Whitfield JOURNMENT OF THE SENATE that law unilaterally and that’s not con- Gallegly Northup Wicker stitutional, that’s not right, that’s wrong,’’ Ganske Norwood Wolf FROM THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1997, he said. Gekas Nussle Young (AK) OR THEREAFTER, TO MONDAY, But with today’s decision, the Supreme Gibbons Oxley Young (FL) JULY 7, 1997 Court decided the lawmakers lacked the Gilchrest Packard standing to file such a suit. The case is Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I offer a NAYS—194 Raines vs, Byrd, 96–1671. privileged concurrent resolution (H. It’s usually risky to read too much into Abercrombie Brown (CA) Davis (FL) Con. Res. 108) and ask for its imme- the justices’ questions during oral argument. Ackerman Brown (FL) Davis (IL) diate consideration. But when the case was heard, some of them Allen Brown (OH) DeFazio Andrews Capps DeGette The Clerk read the concurrent reso- wondered out loud whether lawmakers on Baesler Cardin Delahunt lution, as follows: the losing side had standing to sue, or wheth- Baldacci Carson DeLauro er someone affected by an actual exercise of H. CON. RES. 108 Barcia Clay Dellums the line-item veto would have to claim an in- Barrett (WI) Clayton Deutsch Resolved by the House of Representatives (the jury for the case to move forward. So far, Becerra Clement Dicks Senate concurring), That when the House ad- Clinton has yet to exercise the new power, Berman Clyburn Dingell journs on the legislative day of Thursday, because no spending bills have reached him Berry Condit Doggett June 26, 1997, it stand adjourned until 12:30 yet. Bishop Conyers Dooley p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 1997, or until noon ‘‘Practically, it is a majority of Congress Blagojevich Costello Doyle Bonior Coyne Edwards on the second day after Members are notified that has caused this injury, not the presi- Borski Cramer Engel to reassemble pursuant to section 2 of this dent,’’ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said dur- Boucher Cummings Eshoo concurrent resolution, whichever occurs ing oral arguments. ‘‘They are only injured Boyd Danner Etheridge first; and that when the Senate recesses or by their own folly.’’