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| Freshmen Forums Reps. Granger and Johnson July 9, 1997 |
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Questions asked
in this forum:
Shouldn't we reduce the Federal debt? Are the tax cuts big enough to affect the economy? What is the status of the freshmen campaign finance reform proposal? Do you believe the budget will be balanced? Will the finance investigation lead to reform?
General information, schedules and past Freshmen Forums.
Return to @the Capitol.
Scrutinize the work of several major Congressional committees in online forums with the chairs and ranking members.
Follow the first year in Congress of Freshmen Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Jay Johnson (D-WI)
A question from Samantha Kalber of Appleton, WI:
It seems insane to be focusing on tax cuts at this point in the budget issue. Shouldn't we focus on getting the debt reduced? If we put off tax cuts a little longer, couldn't we afford larger tax cuts later?
Rep. Granger responds:
Thank you for that excellent question. We can't balance the budget and pay down the debt without a strong and growing economy. Unless Americans receive good wages, our tax base will be too small to generate the tax revenues needed for a balanced budget. Our tax relief is targeted to raise wages and strengthen growth. In addition to improving people's standard of living, this tax relief will make our economy stronger, helping to balance the budget and pay down the debt.
Rep. Johnson responds:
Congress and the President have agreed to a five-year budget plan that balances the books for the first time in 28 years. It's fiscally responsible because for the first time in a generation, we will not burden our children with our obligations. Along the way to this goal, if we can give working families a little tax relief to help them pay for their kids' school tuition or allow farmers and small business owners to pass on their property to their children without an enormous tax burden...I think we should pursue that.
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