{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/how-grinch-stole-middle-class-tax-cuts", "How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "David Cicilline", "C001084", "cicilline.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  With a little help from Dr. Seuss, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) shared the story of How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts this morning. A video of Cicillines remarks can be viewed by clicking here. The full text of his remarks, as delivered, is embedded below.\n\n\n--------------------------------------------------\nDavid N. Cicilline\nHow the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts\nRemarks As Delivered\nDecember 19, 2017\n\nWith a little help from Dr. Seuss, Id like to share the story of How the Grinch Stole Middle Class Tax Cuts.\n\nEvery middle class family wanted tax cuts a lot, \n\nBut the Grinch, who lived in a big white house, did not!\n\nThe Grinch hated middle class tax cuts. He wanted the whole tax code uneven.\n\nNow please dont ask why. No one quite knows the reason. \n\nIt could be his head was screwed on a bit wrong.\n\nIt could be his ties were two inches too long.\n\nBut I think that the most likely reason of all,\n\nWas his heart (or his hands) were two sizes too small.\n\nWhatever the reason, his heart or his ties,\n\nHe stood on Christmas Eve, planning workers demise.\n\nStaring out from his office with a sour, Grinchy frown,\n\nAt the workers warm lighted windows below in their town. \n\n\"Tomorrow is Christmas! It's practically here!\"\n\nHe said from his office with a terrible sneer.\n\nWhy, for 71 years Ive put up with it now!\n\n\"I MUST stop these middle class tax cuts! But HOW?\"\n\nThen he got an idea! An awful idea!\n\nThe Grinch got a terrible, awful idea.\n\n\"I know just what to do!\" The Grinch thought with a pause.\n\n\"With this coat and this hat, I look like Santa Claus!\"\n\nThen he loaded some empty bags on his plane,\n\nAnd he took off to cause some mean grinchy pain.\n\nWhile working families dreamed of sweet tax cuts without care,\n\nThe Grinch came to the first little house on the square.\n\n\"This is stop number one,\" the old Grinch Claus hissed,\n\nAnd he climbed to the roof, empty bags in his fist.\n\nThen he slid down the chimney, Santa suit all in place,\n\nAnd he stuck his head out of the small fireplace.\n\nWhere the tax deductions all hung in a row.\n\n\"These deductions,\" he grinned, \"are the first things to go!\"\n\nPersonal Exemptions! Home Equity Interest! State and Local Taxes Too! \n\nIll take almost every deduction away from you!\n\nThen he slunk to the tax bracketsthe corporate tax cuts were HUGE!\n\nWhy, that Grinch even took the Arctic Wildlife Refuge\n\n\"And NOW!\" grinned the Grinch, with his sacks in a net.\n\nIll stack the deficit with one trillion in debt!\n\nThen he heard a small sound, a childs soft cry,\n\n\"Why are you taking our deductions, Grinch? WHY?\"\n\nBut, you know, that old Grinch was so smart and so slick,\n\nThat he thought up a fib, and he thought it up quick!\n\n\"Why, my sweet little tot,\" the Grinch said on the fly,\n\nIm here because corporate taxes are far too high\n\nSo Im taking most of your deductions away,\n\nTo help corporationsand you get to pay!\n\nSee my dear child, theres no reason to frown,\n\nWell make them more wealthy, but it will all trickle down.\n\nHis fib fooled the child. Then he patted her head,\n\nAnd he got her a tax postcard and sent her to bed.\n\nThe Grinch took one last look at her sad little pup,\n\nAnd he went to the chimney and shoved the deficit up!\n\nHealth care for 13 million was the last thing he took,\n\nThen he slithered away without another look.\n\nIn their homes he left nothing but debt and despair\n\nWhile giving handouts to corporations, the Grinch didnt care\n\nAnd the one deduction that he extolled,\n\nWas even too small for a single household. \n\nHe rode with his load of deductions for dumping!\n\n\"Pooh Pooh to the middle class\" he said gleefully jumping.\n\n\"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!\"\n\n\"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two, \n\nAnd theyll all cry Boo Hoo!\n\n\"That's a noise,\" grinned the Grinch, \"That I simply MUST hear!\"\n\nSo he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.\n\nAnd he did hear a sound rising over the snow.\n\nIt started in low. Then it started to grow.\n\nHe stared down aghast! The Grinch popped his eyes!\n\nThen he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!\n\nEvery American, the tall and the small, \n\nLoudly demanding tax cuts for all.\n\nWe want our deductions and A Better Deal, \n\nNot tax cuts for corporations while you cut Meals on Wheels.\n\nAnd the Grinch, with his small hands ice-cold in the snow, \n\nStood puzzling and puzzling: \"How could it be so?\"\n\nAm I a fool? Are my policies all wrong?\n\nWithout those deductions, can the nation be strong?\n\nAnd he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.\n\nThen the Grinch thought of something hed not tweeted before!\n\nMaybe tax cuts should help more than just corporations,\n\nMaybe this Christmas I can help the whole nation!\n\nAmericas middle class is what made it thrive,\n\nThey need these deductions if theyre to survive!\n\nWe all know how the real story ends,\n\nThe Grinch finds his heart and he makes amends.\n\nNow we know this tax bill wont end with such glee,\n\nBecause the President and corporate lobbyists control the GOP.\n\nThis Christmas, families will get just coal in their stocking,\n\nThanks to President Trump, the final result will be shocking.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/how-grinch-stole-middle-class-tax-cuts"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.299844054505229, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}