Harman Statement on Alternative Minimum Tax Relief

Today, Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice), Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence & Terrorism Risk Assessment, made the following statement during floor debate on Alternative Minimum Tax Relief (AMT):

"I strongly support AMT relief for 55,000 taxpayers in my congressional district and 23 million Americans nationwide. But there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Simply providing relief to this generation while raising taxes on future generations is the wrong way.

"Put another way, the $50 billion price tag for this AMT vote can either be paid for responsibly or we can send the bill to our children and grandchildren.

"In my 7 terms in Congress, I have always supported fiscal responsibility and have made scores of votes that are faithful to that principle. Among them was a career-risking vote in 1993 for the Clinton budget that put the country on a path to a balanced budget; my vote in 1994 to cut $100 billion from federal spending (the Penny-Kasich bill); my vote in 1997 for a balanced budget; my vote against the Bush tax package which provided unnecessary relief for the top tax brackets, and now these AMT votes.

"I dedicate my vote today to my first grandchild, Lucy, and to her brother and cousin, who will be born early next year."

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