Washington, D.C – Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz voted today in strong support of a plan that would prevent the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) from hitting millions of middle class families.

As a leading advocate for fixing the AMT, Schwartz spoke on the House floor in vigorous support of the bill.

Her remarks follow.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership on this issue and for your dedication to tax relief for middle income Americans.

“Why are we again talking about the AMT? 

“We are here because Republicans have made it clear that they prefer political expediency over fiscal responsibility. 

“They have decided that it is fine to pile debt onto the shoulders of future generations.

“They say, ‘So what if we add another $50 billion to our debt and nearly $1 trillion over ten years?’
 
“My Republican colleagues have say, ‘There's no need to pay for AMT relief - this tax was never intended to hit these people.’

“Did they forget that in 2001 the Republican Congress knew that the first round of Bush tax cuts for the wealthy - would be partially paid for by pushing 24 million middle income American taxpayers into the AMT in 2007? 

“Did they forget that for the past six years, their budgets anticipated tax revenues from these middle income taxpayers to mask the true cost of their failed fiscal policies?

“No, they didn’t forget. The simple fact is that for six years they, and the President, continued to ring up debt and pass it off to future generations. 
 
“We in the majority will not be so reckless. We will provide tax relief, and we will pay for it.

“Hard working American families deserve relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax, and they deserve to know that it will not be paid for by their children.

“Today’s vote is a vote for responsible tax relief for middle income Americans.” 

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