mr. speaker , when this administration took over the white house , the united states enjoyed a multi-billion dollar budget surplus .  but a republican-controlled congress proved unable to stay the course .  instead , our public surplus has been surrendered -- surrendered to special interests and their corrupt coterie of cronies .  every time big oil or halliburton or some other corporation that shifts its jobs and its profits offshore comes up here and asks for another tax break , this congress waves the white flag of surrender .  the commitment to any fiscal discipline is in full retreat .  now we have huge deficits as far as the eye can see .  at a time of war , republicans demand no sacrifice from those at the top , no sacrifice from multinational corporations ; and they demand that those at the bottom sacrifice their all .  under this bill , the few individuals making over $ 1 million per year are rewarded , on the average , with over $ 50 , 000 in tax breaks .  so those at the top , they can add another fancy foreign car to their fleet .  but for the many who are earning up to $ 40 , 000 a year , that is over half of the people of the united states , they get an average of $ 30 , maybe enough for a full tank of gas .  once again , america sees that a true republican christmas is one where only the silk stockings get stuffed .  and when the bill for this lavish christmas give-away comes due , who is going to pay ?  our children will pick up the tab in the form of endless national debt and with cuts to child care , cuts to assistance to abused and neglected children , cuts to child support enforcement , and cuts to student financial assistance .  the tax-writing body in this chamber has truly become the `` committee on greedy ways and shifty means. '' and this will be remembered as the `` cut-and-run '' congress , cutting taxes greatly for the few , while running trillion-dollar deficits for the rest of us .  