Pass a Clean AMT Fix

PASS A CLEAN AMT FIX -- (House of Representatives - December 19, 2007)

(Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, how much longer do American taxpayers have to wait for Congress to pass a sensible and fair fix to the alternative minimum tax? This highly punitive tax, originally intended to catch only the worst of tax scofflaws, will hit 23 million middle-class taxpayers next year if Congress doesn't act now. Unfortunately, the majority's delay tactics have already caused a cascade effect that will delay the tax refunds of 50 million Americans. If Congress keeps stalling, things will go from bad to worse.

The Senate already rejected a poorly conceived plan that temporarily patches the AMT, but on the condition of enacting a permanent tax hike. Only in Washington does it make sense to make a temporary 1-year tax patch and counter it with a permanent tax hike.

Let's stop the charade and pass an AMT fix that protects millions of middle-class Americans from a huge tax increase. If Congress delays any longer, those 23 million taxpayers will be saddled with an unexpected and severe $2,000 tax increase.

The Senate sent us a clean AMT bill nearly 2 weeks ago. Before we go home, we need to do the right thing and pass it. American taxpayers deserve no less.

Source