Taxes Tax breaks for the wealthy and profitable corporations were passed by Congress, over Sanders’ opposition, during the administration of President George W. Bush. The loss of revenue was a major reason that Bush amassed big deficits after inheriting a big budget surplus. Sanders voted against the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act when the House passed it (H.R. 1836) by a vote of 230-197 in 2001. He voted no when the House passed the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (H.R. 2) by a vote of 222-203. When the tax breaks were set to expire in 2010, Sanders delivered an 8 ½ hour Senate floor speech against extending the tax cuts for the rich. The Senate, however, voted 81-19 (H.R. 4853) to keep the tax breaks in place. Finally, two years later, Sanders prevailed. On New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 2013, he voted with the 90-8 Senate majority on (H.R. 8) to end the Bush tax breaks for the wealthiest 1 percent of American wage earners. Sanders has proposed a progressive tax package to close corporate loopholes and to help balance the budget by making the wealthy pay their fair share.