Not Here to Raise Taxes

Floor Speech

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Ms. SALINAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose the so-called Fair Tax Act.

Right now, Oregonians don't pay a single cent in sales tax. Ask anyone and they will tell you: It is a good thing. We rejected such proposals multiple times. It protects working folks who are disproportionately impacted by the undue burden of spending additional dollars on basic necessities.

I am not here to raise taxes on Oregonians. That is not why my constituents sent me here. I am here to help working folks get ahead, which is why I am so troubled by this congressional proposal to mandate a 30 percent sales tax.

This is far from fair. It is not even close. The top 1 percent may not sweat a 30 percent sales tax, but for working families, that could be the difference between putting food on the table or having to go without.

I stand today to redirect our attention to the pressing needs of Oregonians: the need to lower costs and fight inflation, not to raise taxes. That is what I am focused on, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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