Posted on 6/22/2006, 11:27:53 PM by Sub-Driver
Pelosi: Republicans Cut Taxes for Ultra Rich While Denying a Raise for Hardworking Americans
6/22/2006 5:58:00 PM
To: National Desk, Congressional Correspondent, Political Reporter
Contact: Brendan Daly or Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616, both of Office of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; Web: http://democraticleader.house.gov
WASHINGTON, June 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this afternoon against the estate tax bill, which cuts taxes for less than 1 percent of the wealthiest Americans. Republican leadership brought the estate tax bill to the floor this week, while refusing to allow a vote to increase the minimum wage. Below are Pelosi's remarks:
"Mr. Speaker, today, the House is considering the ultimate values debate. The question before us is: do we want to cut taxes for the ultra super rich, or do we want to give hardworking Americans a raise? Do we want to live in an aristocracy, or a meritocracy? Do we want perpetuate wealth or reward work?
"The estate tax is central to our democracy - it is rooted in our commitment to create a strong and vibrant middle class and to give every American the opportunity to achieve the American dream.
"After the Gilded Age, in which the elites of the time held power and wealth that far outstripped what the average American had, America decided to go in a new direction. One of America's great Republican Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, made the argument for an estate tax, saying that the 'really big fortune, the swollen fortune, by the mere fact of its size acquires qualities which differentiate it in kind as well as in degree from what is possessed by men of relatively small means. Therefore I believe in a...graduated tax on big fortunes, properly safeguarded again evasion.'
(Excerpt) Read more at releases.usnewswire.com ...
Dems old playbook... dinosaurs refuse to die..
The government can give me a raise?? Sweet! I want on that democrat bus!
Hard working Americans have the motivation to go out and find jobs that pay better than minimum wage, or if stuck in one they work at it hard enough to earn raises and promotions. They don't rely on government to give them pay raises. They work to earn them themselves.
Only 4% of heads of household are minimum wage earners. The rest are teenagers or second income earners.
If the liberal leadership actually wanted to strengthen the middle class, they'd all be out of work.
I don't need a raise, myself. This woman in Nigeria is going to give me 2 million dollars for helping her smuggle 20 million out of the country. Just a matter of paying a few fees.
The ol'Rope-A-Dope "Tax the rich and give to the poor!" "We gotta take care of the liberal plantation and make sure none of them wander off!"
The government can give me a raise?? Sweet! I want on that democrat bus!
Just remember to leave any ethics you may have.....on the curb.
The liberal leadership would be out of work, I mean.
Class warfare. Redistribution of wealth.
How old.
If dems. had their way we would all be paying higher taxes. Including the "poor".
Hey civilization has collapsed. The liberals won. Everyone's on their own!...s/
How can this clueless, rich, inarticulate woman talk about hardworking Americans when she never worked a day of her life? Why do the Democrats not get hardworking Americans to represent themselves?
Isn't the figure 4% for all workers? Or is it less?
Does anyone have the exact figures on what pct. of U.S. workers make minimum wage?
It is not the Federal government's job to tell employer's how much they should pay THEIR employees! The state already does more than enough to FORCE businesses to pay a minimum wage. Arkansas' will be going up from $5.15 in October to $6.95.
How long have they been using this golden oldie? Since the Lincoln administration?
Let's put everyone on salary and make mininum wage 1 million dollars. It'll be be nothing but lazy days by the pool and a Ferrari in every driveway.
See tag line.
Politicians are frequent fliers on corporate jets
Use of private aircraft routine for members of Congress, NBC News finds
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12616010/
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