WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman of the Democratic Caucus James E. Clyburn (D-SC) and Congressman Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) sent the following letter in response to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert’s comments during debate on the budget.   

Following is text of the letter:

Dear Mr. Speaker:

We are writing in response to your comments last night during debate on the budget. As you will recall, you said, “If you earn $40,000 a year and have a family of two, you don't pay any taxes.” With all due respect, Mr. Speaker, middle-class families pay more than their fair share of taxes.  The economic challenges facing millions of middle-class families should not be so easily dismissed on the House Floor.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, middle-class families paid an average of 13.6 percent of their income in federal taxes in 2003 through payroll taxes, alone.  Additionally, these hard working families pay state income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, gasoline taxes, and countless excise taxes.  If anything, middle-class families are paying too much in taxes. 

At the same time, middle-class families are struggling with skyrocketing living expenses.  Gas prices have risen from $1.40 a gallon in March of 2001 to a current average of $2.95.  Public tuition at four-year colleges has increased 38% over the last five years.  Health care premiums have increased 73% since 2001. The cost of new and existing homes rose 12.2% last year.  And the median price of a home was up 10.3 percent in the first quarter of 2006.

While the top earners are doing very well in this economy, millions of working families are struggling every day to make ends meet.  As elected leaders, we shouldn’t dismiss the economic challenges they’re facing, including the substantial taxes they pay.
 

Sincerely,

James E. Clyburn        
Member of Congress

Rahm Emanuel
Member of Congress