E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 108 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 149 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2003 No. 66 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was vate sector jobs have been lost, the cally irresponsible, saddling our chil- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- worst record in 40 years. Any tax cut dren with debt and hurting long-term pore (Mr. BOOZMAN). passed by Congress should be fair, fast- economic growth. What a reversal of f acting and fiscally responsible. The Re- fortune we have witnessed over the last publican plan fails this test. 2 years. When the Bush administration DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO Mr. Speaker, the Republican tax plan came into office, there was a projected TEMPORE is simply unfair. The wealthiest Ameri- $5.6 trillion 10-year surplus. With this The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- cans will fare better under the Repub- tax package, coupled with the huge tax fore the House the following commu- lican tax plan than the President’s cut in 2001, Republicans will produce a nication from the Speaker: plan, while middle class Americans, record $1.4 trillion deficit over the next WASHINGTON, DC, Americans with annual incomes be- 10 years. That is a $7 trillion reversal May 6, 2003. tween $30,000 and $100,000, will actually in our country’s fortunes. I hereby appoint the Honorable JOHN receive less under the Republican plan Today, based on the tax proposal this BOOZMAN to act as Speaker pro tempore on than they would have under the Presi- House will debate later this week, it is this day. dent’s plan. According to a report re- clear the House Republicans have J. DENNIS HASTERT, leased this week by the Center on changed their tune. No longer are sky- Speaker of the House of Representatives. Budget and Policy Priorities, house- rocketing deficits a concern, this de- f holds with incomes of more than $1 spite the fact that Federal Reserve MORNING HOUR DEBATES million per year would receive an aver- Chairman Alan Greenspan last week age tax cut this year of $105,600 under agreed that huge deficits will threaten The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the House Republican plan, and that is economic growth. He stated, ‘‘If ant to the order of the House of Janu- $15,000 more than they would have re- through tax cuts you get significant in- ary 7, 2003, the Chair will now recog- ceived under the President’s proposal. creases in deficits which induce a rise nize Members from lists submitted by Contrast those benefits with the mid- in long-term interest rates, you will the majority and minority leaders for dle fifth of households that will receive significantly undercut the benefits morning hour debates. The Chair will an average tax cut of $218 under the that would be achieved from any tax alternate recognition between the par- Thomas plan, slightly less than under cut.’’ ties, with each party limited to not to the Bush plan. And let me reiterate, a Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Republican exceed 30 minutes, and each Member, millionaire under the Republican plan tax plan is full of gimmicks designed to except the majority leader, the minor- would see a tax benefit of more than hide the true cost to taxpayers. In fact, ity leader, or the minority whip, lim- $105,000, and an American making be- the only proposals within the Repub- ited to not to exceed 5 minutes. tween $40,000 and $50,000 would receive lican plan which are beneficial to The Chair recognizes the gentleman a cut of only $456. America’s middle class; that is, the from New Jersey (Mr. PALLONE) for 5 At a time when we should be doing Marriage Penalty Relief and the Child minutes. everything possible to jump-start the Tax Credit, would expire after 2005. In- f economy, the Republican solution cen- stead, Republicans would come back ters around tax cuts on dividends and and probably extend the benefits which REJECT REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN capital gains, two cuts that are tar- would raise the total cost of the pack- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I did geted towards the wealthiest Ameri- age to at least $760 billion through 2013. not think it was possible, but chairman cans, and according to economists will The Washington Post editorial page of the Committee on Ways and Means, not create any new jobs. Do not just called these gimmicks ‘‘tax cut trick- the gentleman from California (Mr. take my word for it, consider that ery’’ just this morning in their edi- THOMAS) came up with a worse tax plan more than 400 economists earlier this torial. than the one that President Bush pro- year said, ‘‘The tax cut plan proposed Mr. Speaker, at a time when our posed earlier this year. Neither the by President Bush is not the answer to economy needs a true jolt to reverse President’s plan nor the House Repub- the problem.’’ The economists con- American’s fears of losing their jobs, lican plan, scheduled to be marked by cluded that the permanent dividend tax the Republicans once again plan to the Committee on Ways and Means cut in particular is not credible as a give a huge tax cut to the wealthiest today, will jump-start the economy. short-term stimulus. Americans. This plan offers very little Mr. Speaker, since the President Mr. Speaker, like the Bush economic to families and middle class Ameri- took office, more than 2.7 million pri- blueprint, the House GOP plan is fis- cans, and instead saddles them with a b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H3643 . VerDate Jan 31 2003 03:23 May 07, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06MY7.000 H06PT1 H3644 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 6, 2003 huge deficit, a deficit that risks the fu- The gentleman from California (Mr. which made it illegal to talk against ture of Social Security and Medicare THOMAS) and the Committee on Ways the government and people were and means likely future interest rate and Means will propose a package to thrown in jail for doing so. Abe Lincoln increases. help create jobs for the millions of during the Civil War suspended the Democrats have proposed a true eco- Americans out of work and help create Writ of Habeas Corpus. During World nomic stimulus plan that is fair, fast an economic environment that rewards War I, we again threw people in jail for acting and fiscally responsible. Our investment and risk. The President’s speaking against the government. Dur- plan would create 1 million new jobs plan is an American solution to an ing World War II, we rounded up over this year, provide an extension of un- American problem. 100,000 Japanese-American citizens and employment benefits to millions of Congress should get out of the way put them in internment camps. Fifty Americans still looking for jobs, pro- and let entrepreneurs and workers cre- years later we realized we had done vide tax relief to small businesses to ate jobs through investment, innova- them wrong, and we apologized and invest in new equipment this year and tion and hard work. But for them to do paid them a meager sum. During the provide assistance to cash-strapped that, they need real tax relief, substan- McCarthy era in the Cold War, 160 se- States and municipalities. tial enough to do some good in our $10 cret hearings were held and lives were I do not think there is any question trillion economy. We do not need timid ruined if you exercised your constitu- about the choice; but unfortunately, proposals or hidden tax hikes in the tional rights. the Republicans have the majority and guise of offsets that will only reinforce So in sum, war and fear and insecu- will likely be able to push their tax cut current anxieties. rity can make us lose our moorings. plan through the House later this Mr. Speaker, after the brief session After September 11, we rushed to week. I think it is very unfortunate be- in 2001, the economic ramifications of pass the PATRIOT Act in 6 weeks. The cause it will do nothing to reverse the the 9/11 attacks and the understandable PATRIOT Act has some good provi- economic downturn. anxieties during the buildup to the bat- sions which update old laws; but it also f tle of Iraq, we have finally turned this seriously undermines the Bill of Rights TURNING THE ECONOMIC TIDE corner toward greater economic recov- and many other provisions. Take one, ery. The American people want jobs, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the fourth amendment, which says ant to the order of the House of Janu- and they deserve an economy strong there shall not be any searches of a ary 7, 2003, the gentleman from Texas enough to create those jobs. person’s home without a court issuing The President’s proposal will create (Mr. DELAY) is recognized during morn- a warrant. jobs and, finally, turn the economic ing hour debates for 5 minutes. One of the worst examples of a fourth Mr. DELAY. Mr. Speaker, I am very tide away from anxiety and into the amendment violation in the PATRIOT interested in what the previous speaker favor of workers, small business people, Act is a new provision called sneak and had to say.