The Senate voted to go ahead with the tax cuts. The Democratic motion was defeated in a party line vote. The Senate then turned to an amendment by Texas Republican Phil Gramm, an attempt to push through tax cuts similar to what the House approved last week. I believe we need to define very precisely what we would like to use this tax cut to do, and rather than running around trying to stick a nickel in everybody's pocket with a targeted program, I would prefer to have a tax cut that has clear themes. And that's right.
Tax cuts are for taxpayers.
If you don't pay taxes and we have a tax cut, you don't get a tax cut. Most Americans don't get food stamps. Most Americans don't get AFDC, most Americans don't get Medicaid because they don't qualify for those programs. If you don't pay taxes, you don't qualify for a tax cut. Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold didn't jump up and down but argued Senator Gramm's tax cut proposal leaves no money to spend on any future emergencies.