    The plan does some important things for American. It reduces taxes for everyone who pays taxes. It lowers the lowest income tax rate from 15 percent to 10 percent. It cuts the highest rate to 33 percent, because the government believes no one should pay more than a third of their income to the federal government. The average family of four will get about $1,600 of their own money returned back to them. 
    There's a lot of talk in Washington about paying down the national debt, and that's good, and that's important. And the budget will do that. But American families have debts to pay, as well. A tax cut now will stimulate the economy and create jobs. 
    The economic news these days is troubling -- rising energy prices, layoffs, falling consumer confidence. This is not a time for government to be taking more money than it needs away from the people who buy goods and create jobs. 
