(April 19, 2012 -- Washington, D.C) Raising the issue of tax fairness once again in a speech from the House floor, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today called for passage of the "Buffett Rule" to protect Nevada's middle-class families from shouldering the tax burden for Big Oil executives and Wall Street millionaires. Video of Berkley's remarks can be viewed at www.youtube.com/shelleyberkley
and a transcript of her speech appears below:
"I rise in support of the Levin substitute and on behalf of the middle-class families of Nevada who are struggling to make ends meet.
"I'm talking about the housekeepers, the card dealers, the teachers, the nurses and the cops on the beat.
"The ones who work hard to take care of their families, put food on the table, fill up their car with gas, buy new sneakers for their kids and make the mortgage payments on time.
"Yet in spite of these challenges, Washington asks them to give a little more.
"Washington Republicans ask them to make additional sacrifices.
"Ask them to carry the extra burden for wealthy Wall Street millionaires not paying their fair share.
"Why on Earth should a waitress in Nevada pay a higher tax rate than a yacht owner?
"Why should a janitor pick up the slack for a Big Oil executive?
"Why should a car dealer sacrifice more than a Wall Street hedge fund manager?
"That doesn't make sense -- it's not fair.
"Wall Street corporations shipping American jobs overseas and Big Oil companies making record profits don't need our help. Working men and women in this country do.
This piece of legislation would be destructive to them, their futures and their families.
"It's time we started siding with the middle-class families who most definitely do need our help, and that starts by passing the Buffet Rule."
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