Lake Cities Realtors Association Speech
Wylie,
Feb 6, 2004 -
THANK YOU FOR THAT KIND INTRODUCTION.
IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK HOME IN TEXAS.
IF IT’S OK WITH Y’ALL, I’M GOING TO GIVE A QUICK WASHINGTON REPORT THEN I’LL OPEN UP THE FLOOR FOR Q & A.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE:
CUT TAXES,
CAPTURED SADDAM,
FOUGHT TERRORISM,
ENDED GRISLY PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION, AND
WE ADDED TO MEDICARE.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT – I STILL WANT TO DO MORE.
LET’S HAVE A SHOW OF HANDS.
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT EVEN LOWER TAXES?
HOW MANY OF YOU THINK IT’S JUST PLAIN WRONG THAT UNCLE SAM TAXES YOUR FAMILY WHEN YOU DIE?
WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE I CAN STAY BECAUSE WE’LL GET ALONG JUST FINE.
AS THE HIGHEST-RANKING TEXAN ON THE TAX COMMITTEE – THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, I’M GOING TO WORK HARD TO ADVOCATE THE PRESIDENT’S PROPOSAL TO MAKE THE TAX CUTS WE PASSED PERMANENT.
LOWER TAX RATES MEAN THAT YOU’LL RECEIVE MORE TAKE HOME PAY.
AND MORE TAKE HOME PAY MEANS THAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT FOR A NEW HOME OR TO MOVE INTO A BIGGER HOUSE. AS REALTORS, I BET YOU’D SUPPORT THAT!
ELIMINATING THE MARRIAGE PENALTY FOR GOOD MEANS THAT YOU WON’T BE TAXED JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY I DO.
AND PUTTING AN END TO THE UNFAIR DEATH TAX WOULD MAKEA LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY.
YOU KNOW IT’S JUST SAD. ONLY IN AMERICA WOULD YOU GET A CERTIFICATE AT BIRTH, A LICENSE AT MARRIAGE AND A BILL AT DEATH! THAT’S JUST WRONG!
OUR TAX SYSTEM IS JUST SO BACKWARDS AND SO COMPLICATED.
THAT’S WHY I’VE WRITTEN A BILL TO ABOLISH THE TAX CODE ALL TOGETHER!
I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT CONGRESS WILL GET MOVING ON MAKING A SIMPLER, FAIRER SYSTEM IS IF THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TAX CODE BY A DATE CERTAIN.
LET AMERICA DEBATE FLAT TAX, SALES TAX, WHATEVER TAX –WE JUST HAVE TO SCRAP THE CODE!
AND ANOTHER THING – NOTHING GETS MY GOAT LIKE WHEN SOMEONE ASKS – HOW ARE YOU GOING TO PAY FOR THOSE TAX CUTS – THEY’RE SO EXPENSIVE?
WELL – LET’S SEE. IT’S NOT THE GOVERNMENT’S MONEY – IT’S YOUR MONEY!
I THINK THAT YOU OUGHT TO KEEP IT.
I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SPEND LESS, NOT TAX MORE. (PAUSE)
YOU KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF TALK IN WASHINGTON ABOUT HIGH DEFICITS AND HIGH SPENDING – AND THAT’S WHY I SUPPORT A ZERO-PERCENT GROWTH BUDGET UNTIL WE CAN GET OUR BOOKS IN ORDER.
SO WE HAD TERRORIST ATTACKS AND WE HAD A RECESSION – BUT WE’RE MOVING ON NOW AND WE’VE GOT TO TIGHTEN THE RAINS.
IT’S CALLED ACCOUNTABILITY.
IT’S THAT SIMPLE.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT WE’RE DOING ON MY OTHER COMMITTEE THAT’S THE EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE COMMITTEE.
THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE, LISTEN UP.
WOULDN’T IT BE NICE IF AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS YOU COULD JOIN A HUGE PURCHASING POOL TO BUY BETTER HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS AT LOWER PRICES?
YOU COULD DO THIS THROUGH THE LAKE CITIES ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS OR THE LOCAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
YOU COULD DECIDE IF YOU WANT EYEGLASSES COVERAGE, PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE, OR A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE.
YOU WOULDN’T BE FORCED INTO A ONE-SIZE FITS NOBODY SYSTEM THAT COSTS AND ARM AND A LEG.
NOW, THERE ARE SOME RULES ABOUT THIS PLAN TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND PREVENT THE CREATION OF FLY-BY-NIGHT GROUPS WHO WOULD SCAM THE SYSTEM.
THE ASSOCIATION WOULD HAVE TO EXIST FOR A REASON OTHER THAN PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE AND HAVE GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING.
YOU KNOW, BIG BUSINESSES GET TO USE THE POWER OF THE MARKETPLACE TO GET BETTER PRODUCTS AND BETTER PRICES.
PEOPLE LIKE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BAND TOGETHER TO DO THE SAME THING.
I SAY IF IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR WALL STREET, IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR MAIN STREET!
THIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE AND PRESIDENT BUSH JUST LAST WEEK URGED THE SENATE TO GET MOVING ON ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS …
SO STAY TUNED FOR SOME ACTION ON THIS BILL.
IN A RELATED MATTER – FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE A HIGH-DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, DID YOU KNOW THAT UNDER THE NEW MEDICARE LAW, YOU CAN HAVE YOUR OWN HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT – EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT ON MEDICARE.
THAT’S RIGHT. STARTING IN 2004 PEOPLE WITH HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLANS WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHERE THEY COULD SAVE MONEY TAX FREE.
AND UNLIKE THE SPENDING ACCOUNT SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE, YOU DON’T LOSE THE MONEY AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR IF YOU DON’T USE IT – IT ROLLS OVER TO NEXT YEAR.
AND IT GETS TRANSFERRED TAX-FREE TO A SPOUSE IF YOU PASS ON.
THIS IS YOUR MONEY – AND IT’S TAX FREE. THAT’S A GREAT WAY TO DEAL WITH THE HIGH COST OF HEALTH CARE RIGHT NOW.
NOW – NO MATTER WHERE I GO PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS ASKING ME – HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PRESIDENT BUSH’S NEW IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL.
WELL – LET’S JUST SAY IT WILL BE A COLD DAY IN HELL BEFORE I SUPPORT BLANKET AMNESTY.
YOU KNOW, IMMIGRATION TO THIS COUNTRY IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A RIGHT.
I ONLY SUPPORT LEGAL IMMIGRATION.
IF YOU CAME TO AMERICA LEGALLY, YOU SHOULD BE REWARDED.
IF YOU CAME TO AMERICA ILLEGALLY, YOU SHOULD BE DEPORTED.
BEFORE WE CLOSE I WANT TO ASK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO DO ONE THING TODAY – AND THAT’S TO PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS.
DON’T YOU THINK THEY’RE DOING A GREAT JOB?
WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH, THANKS IN PART TO THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE DAILY TO KEEP US SAFE.
I’LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE MORNING THEY CAPTURED SADDAM AND THE JOY OF THE IRAQIS DANCING AROUND ON TV.
HIDING IN A HOLE – CAPTURED ON TV - FOR THE ENTIRE WORLD TO SEE HIM AS HE REALLY IS – A COWARD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES, GIRLS WOULD GO TO SCHOOL, PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO READ WHAT THEY WANTED AND DO WHAT THEY WANTED.
THE FREEDOMS AND BLESSINGS WE CHERISH AND SOMETIMES TAKE FOR GRANTED FINALLY WERE TASTED BY THE OPRESSED IRAQIS.
I’M SO PROUD OF OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN AND I SALUTE THEM.
ON THAT NOTE, I KNOW Y’ALL WANT TIME FOR Q&A SO I’LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
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