Rep. Kathy Castor

“Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to join you this morning as we continue the fight for economic recovery in our community.

This is my first public event since my friend and colleague U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, her staff and others were shot in Tucson, Arizona. First, I want you to know Congresswoman Giffords is a wonderful person and public servant. We were sworn in to our third terms together last Wednesday.  We finished our work on Friday afternoon, so she must have arrived home in Tucson late on Friday night.  She is so dedicated that it would be just like her to be up early the next morning for “Congress on Your Corner”.

Second, all public servants - at every level - rely on dedicated staff members.  That is true for Gabby, for me, and for the Mayors, Commissioner and Council Members here today.  We value the job our professional staff does. They are dedicated and devoted to public service as well.

Third, in our community we have a history of working together no matter our party registration.  All of the elected officials here today - Commissioner Morroni, Mayor Foster, Mayor David Archie, Council Member Wengay Newton, Council Member Karl Nurse – and others who are not here including Congressman Bill Young and others, we are friends and colleagues who respect each other and work together because we love our community and Tampa Bay area neighbors.

As we approach Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday remembrance next week, I encourage everyone to recommit to work on nonviolence in our homes and community, improve the civil discourse, and share with others that inflamed political rhetoric is wrong. President Obama has asked the nation to observe a moment of silence and I ask my friends in public service to please join me up front as we pray for the victims of the horrendous Arizona tragedy.

We are all working together to ensure that economic recovery continues for families in our community. There is significant tax relief available to hardworking families throughout Pinellas and Tampa Bay area.

But you must help spread the word - our neighbors need to know where to go.

The Prosperity Campaign & Wealth Building Coalition are here for our hardworking neighbors and it is easy because there are many Volunteer Income Tax Assistance “VITA” sites….

In St. Petersburg alone there are 5 this year – and have friendly, knowledgeable people to answer questions and fill out tax returns.

When I was a county commissioner in 2004 we launched the Prosperity Campaign to get the money back into the pockets of working families and students.

It is working. Our push is bigger every year with more and more money flowing back into the pockets of our neighbors.

Congress, along with President Obama, has been hard at work the last two years working to provide tax relief for families.

In December, under President Obama’s leadership, the Congress extended major tax relief to (the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010) to everyone.

The Earned Income Tax Credit or “EITC” - do you work hard, but you don’t make a lot? Say under $45,000?

The Child Tax Credit - do you have a child under age 17”?

Do you have student loans or college expenses, you may qualify for other tax credits?

VITA volunteers are doing a tremendous job. Many Bay area families are in dire need of a little extra help. Thank you for providing it to them.”