Cannon Terrace, Cannon Office Building, 12 Noon, May 21, 2003

Statement By 60 Plus Association President Jim Martin

Washington, DC — Good afternoon. I’m Jim Martin, President of the 60 Plus Association, an organization that counts on support from more than 4.5 million senior citizens.

Seniors on fixed incomes are hurt every time the tax-and-spend crowd in Congress goes for — in the words of film and TV personality, Damon Wayans — “mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money.” The problem is the big spenders think it’s their money, not your money.

60 Plus agrees that seniors need their tax burden lifted, not shifted.

Seniors are not interested — nor are they fooled — when cutting taxes in one area is offset by raising taxes in other areas. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that the average family’s annual gasoline tax burden is $660 and this proposed tax increase adds another $135 to $140 to this burden.

$800 yearly in gas taxes most hurts those on fixed incomes — senior citizens — and especially lower income seniors.

60 Plus applauds Reps. Bartlett, Feeney, Pence, Flake, Henserling, Wilson, Franks and especially Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) for taking the lead on this important initiative. Seniors can count on Representative Musgrave.

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