Paul Serves as Victoria Livestock Show Grand Marshall PDF Print E-mail
FOR RELEASE: March 7, 2000

Paul Serves as Victoria Livestock Show Grand Marshall Promotes Legislation to Help Students Pay for College

Victoria, TX - On Saturday, Congressman Ron Paul served as the Parade Grand Marshall for the start of the 54th Annual Victoria Livestock Show. After the parade, Paul spoke about a letter he sent to every Member of Congress last week asking that they support his effort to repeal the undue burden the federal government is placing on students who participate in the event. Currently, students are forced to pay federal income tax when they sell livestock raised as part of an agriculture education program.
Paul said, ""These kids are trying to better themselves, and what does Congress do? We pick on these students by taxing them. That is why I introduced the 'Agriculture Education Freedom Act' this year. It will exempt these students from paying taxes on the animals they have raised. It is time the federal government stop taxing our youngsters who are trying to earn money to go to college."
The Livestock Show provides scholarships and other educational opportunities for students in programs such as Future Farmers of America and 4-H. Paul says these taxes discourage young people from participating in agriculture education programs, and they are a perfect indication of an intrusive federal government that punishes responsible students for preparing for the future.
The "Agriculture Education Freedom Act," coupled with the "Make College Affordable Act" (HR 2750), is aimed at bringing sweeping changes to the tax code to allow every student the financial freedom to get a college education. Paul was an original cosponsor of the "Make College Affordable Act" which will amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals to deduct up to $20,000 in higher education expenses every year.
Paul explained, "The 'Make College Affordable Act' and the 'Agriculture Education Freedom Act' will reduce the tax burden for those pursuing higher education, making college available to more students."