I have spent the last six years in Congress fighting to ensure Americans can keep more of those hard-earned dollars.  Congress has enacted tax relief programs which help American families – including a reduction in marginal income tax rate, marriage tax penalty relief, alternative minimum tax relief, an increase in the child tax credit, and reduced rates on capitol gains and dividends. 

Lower taxes have allowed businesses to invest more and create more jobs.  Our economy has added more than 7 million new jobs since August 2003.  Our productivity is increasing, industrial production is growing, and homeownership is at a record high.

Unfortunately, many of these important tax relief provisions are set to expire in the near future.  While we have been successful in enacting extensions to some of these provisions, others are still vulnerable to be re-implemented.  This includes relief from the death tax, an unfair tax that doubles and sometimes triples the rate of taxation on many small businesses and farmers who are trying to pass on their life’s work to their families. 

You can rest assured I will continue to fight in the 110th Congress to make these tax relief provisions permanent, and remain firmly committed to fiscal discipline.