State of Delaware Archives: on Tax Reform


Chris Coons: New approach to replace Bush tax cuts

Recently, 18-year Congressman Mike Castle of Delaware told a reporter from Al-Jazeera: "People are beginning to grasp that the fiscal mismanagement in Washington which has caused a lot of indebtedness, a lot of borrowing, ultimately interest rate increases, and some great problems in the future needs to be managed."

"Congressman Castle has been in Congress for 18 years, and voting for indebtedness, borrowing, supporting the Bush tax breaks for the rich and bailing out Wall Street banks and now he tells a reporter that Washington should be managed better? He had the opportunity to reject the failed ideas of the past and he didn't--it is time for a new approach," said a Chris Coons campaign spokesperson. He added, "The open US Senate seat in Delaware is drawing national and international attention and for the first time Congressman Castle is going to have to account for saying one thing in Delaware and doing another in Washington."

Source: Coons press release on Delaware Liberal (DL blog) Aug 18, 2010

Chris Coons: Every extension of Bush tax cut adds to the deficit

Q: Do you support keeping the Bush tax cuts for all Americans or only those make under $200,000?

COONS: I support extending the Bush tax cuts for the overwhelming majority of Americans. I don't think we should draw an arbitrary line at $250,000. But th value that I will apply as deciding how much to extend, whether it goes up to $1 million or $2 million, is that we've got a tough choice to make. Every increased tax cut, every extension that's given, is going to increase the deficit. The primary value I would apply in deciding whether to extend all the Bush tax cuts & for how long [is that] we should do those tax cuts that have the best chance of getting our economy going again.

O'DONNELL: You have said that you will stop the tax cuts for the so-calle rich. What you fail to realize is the so-called rich are the small business owner. small business owner, the dry-cleaner down the street, the pizza shop owner who makes $300,000 before they pay their four employees, before they feed their own family.

Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate Oct 13, 2010

Christine O`Donnell: 2011 tax hikes will cost $10,000 per family

I'm running because I'm concerned about the direction of our country. In just three years, we will be paying $1 billion a day on the interest alone on our national debt.

The common sense men and women all across Delaware know this is not sustainable. Yet my opponent wants to go to Washington and rubber-stamp the failed spending bills that are coming from--that have cost us 2.5 million jobs.

This is wrong. Uncle Sam needs to be cut off.

I want to go to Washington to create jobs based on private business, not your tax dollars. I want to fight to have our nation become debt free. I want to stop the tax hikes that are coming in January.

A vote for my opponent will cost the average Delaware family $10,000 instantly between the January tax hikes and his vote for cap and trade. Most of us can't afford that. If you think that government is too small and that your taxed too little, if you're ever questioned whether America is a beacon of freedom and justice, then he's your guy.

Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate Oct 13, 2010

Christine O`Donnell: Two-year tax holiday on the capital gains tax

O'DONNELL: A couple of that things I'm proposing. #1: a temporary two-year tax holiday on the capital gains tax to give investors the money they need to reinvest in business, to permanently eliminate the death tax. That's not only an unjust bill because we've paid taxes while we saved it, but it will also create 1.5 million new jobs.

COONS: We'd like to have Americans able to receive the benefits they need to get through incredibly difficult times. But to simply denounce people as being dependent because they're applying for and receiving food stamps in the worst recession in modern times is slandering people.

O'DONNELL: I'm not the person who would cut the tax benefits for disabled and low-income senior citizens, as you did as county executive But what I'm proposing is to make sure that the tax cuts for our Delawareans do not expire this January. You have said that you will stop the tax cuts for the so-called rich. What you fail to realize is the so-called rich are the small business owner.

Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate Oct 13, 2010

Christine O`Donnell: Small business owners earn $300K and need tax cuts too

Q: Do you support keeping the Bush tax cuts for all Americans or only those make under $200,000?

COONS: I support extending the Bush tax cuts for the overwhelming majority of Americans. I don't think we should draw an arbitrary line at $250,000. But th value that I will apply as deciding how much to extend, whether it goes up to $1 million or $2 million, is that we've got a tough choice to make. Every increased tax cut, every extension that's given, is going to increase the deficit. The primary value I would apply in deciding whether to extend all the Bush tax cuts & for how long [is that] we should do those tax cuts that have the best chance of getting our economy going again.

O'DONNELL: You have said that you will stop the tax cuts for the so-calle rich. What you fail to realize is the so-called rich are the small business owner. small business owner, the dry-cleaner down the street, the pizza shop owner who makes $300,000 before they pay their four employees, before they feed their own family.

Source: CNN's Wolf Blitzer moderating 2010 Delaware Senate debate Oct 13, 2010

Gene Truono: Tax reform will be one of his top 3 issues for advocacy

"This campaign isn't about me being gay," Truono told the Delaware News Journal on the day he announced his candidacy on Feb. 20. "It's about bringing conservative principles to Washington from Delaware. It's about pushing things like tax reform, jobs and health care reform - things I think people really care about," the News Journal quoted him as saying.
Source: Washington Blade on 2018 Delaware Senate race Mar 5, 2018

Jack Markell: Reduce corporate tax to increase competitiveness

It's also time for us to modernize our tax code to promote job creation. I applaud the House of Representatives for passing the Delaware Competes Act, which recognizes that we must change our corporate income tax laws so that Delaware is more competitive--and so that companies have a bigger incentive to expand in our state.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Delaware legislature Jan 21, 2016

James DeMartino: Low taxes and health care my priority for seniors, retirees

Low taxes and health care are my priorities for our seniors and retirees. I will not support increasing taxes on a population reliant on a fixed income.
Source: Wilmington News Journal on 2020 Delaware Senate race Aug 17, 2018

Jessica Scarane: Wall Street must pay taxes on extreme wealth

Scarane said, "I am supporting progressive views because I believe we should have a government that fights for our people."

Bullet points on Scarane's campaign website also include "peace, not war; racial justice; protect immigrants; make Wall Street pay their fair share."

"People want to see positive material change in their day-to-day lives," Scarane said. "It shouldn't be considered a radical initiative to try to make people's lives better and using the government to do that."

Source: WDEL Wilmington News Radio on 2020 Delaware Senate race Nov 18, 2019

Jessica Scarane: Make Wall Street pay their fair share

Scarane said, "I am supporting progressive views because I believe we should have a government that fights for our people." Bullet points on Scarane's campaign website also include "peace, not war...racial justice...protect immigrants... make Wall Street
Source: WDEL News Radio on 2020 Delaware Senate race Nov 18, 2019

John Carney: Share sacrifice of budget cuts and tax hikes

Business as usual has to change. If we are going to tackle the tough issues that confront us, we need to get our financial house in order. We need a budget reset--a new plan to set us on stronger financial footing and make our state more competitive. A long-term solution to a nearly $400 million budget deficit.

I've proposed an operating budget that grows government spending less than 3/10 of 1%. It contains a 50-50 mix of spending cuts & new revenue. It's built on the principle of shared sacrifice.

Our north star in building this budget was making Delaware more competitive. While we went line by line, deciding which programs to cut and which to preserve, which taxes to raise and which to leave untouched, we asked ourselves the same question over and over again: "How will this decision impact our ability to grow our economy and compete?"

It would be easy to get lost in the doom and gloom of budget cuts and tax hikes. There is something in our budget for everyone not to like.

Source: 2017 Delaware State of the State address Mar 30, 2017

Kevin Wade: Tax code adds 12.5 percent to the cost of everything

Wade said the tax code needs an overhaul. The federal tax code adds 12.5 percent to the cost of everything manufactured in the United States, Wade said. He called the code a toy box for special interests. "There is no confidence in the leadership of this nation," he said.
Source: Cape Gazette on 2012 Delaware Senate debate Oct 19, 2012

Rob Arlett: For Trump's 2017 Tax Reform: make taxpayer cuts permanent

Rob supports the 2017 Tax Reform signed into law by President Trump as the first step of many to lead to economic revitalization. When more companies are able to hire, corporate and individual payroll revenues lead to higher federal tax revenues and reductions in the national deficit. Higher national GDP metrics will lead to long-term reductions in the national debt. Rob will work tirelessly to make the federal tax cuts permanent for individual taxpayers.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senate Campaign website RobArlett.com Sep 1, 2018

Matt Meyer: Cut property tax but not enough to cut government services

New Castle County's 2024 budget includes the first property tax reduction in 50 years. Meyer said the county chose 5% to strike a good balance. "We want to give a homeowner something substantive but we continue to have an outlook that preserves our ability to address crises, to provide quality services," Meyer said. "So you don't want to give so much back that you deplete your reserves and you have no money to do basic government services."
Source: Town Square Delaware on 2024 Delaware Gubernatorial race May 26, 2023

Mike Katz: Reduce corporate tax burdens; simplify the tax code

Source: 2024 Delaware Senate campaign website DrMikeKatz.com Feb 8, 2024

Eric Hansen: We need to move towards a flatter, simpler tax system

We need to reform the Federal Reserve to reduce interest rates. We will require balanced budgets and smarter government spending. We need to move towards a flatter, simpler tax system for small businesses and corporations -- with exemptions for low-income families. All of this will stimulate our economy and create more and higher paying jobs and put money back in your pocket.
Source: 2024 Delaware Senate campaign website VoteEricHansen.com Feb 23, 2024

Mike Ramone: Working on a means test for senior property tax credits

Ramone is currently working on a bill that would means test for senior property tax credits based on the property of a home. Although still in the works, Ramone provided an example to explain what his bill is intended to do: "If your home is worth zero to $500,000, you would get a $1,000 tax credit," he said. "If your home is worth $500,000 to $1 million, you'd get a $500 tax credit and anyone's homes that are worth $1 million or more wouldn't get any tax credit."
Source: Delaware Live on 2024 Delaware Gubernatorial race Feb 6, 2023

Matt Meyer: Readjust the scales to ensure the richest pay their share

At a time when the federal government is doubling down on tax cuts from 2017, where the majority of the benefits go to the wealthiest, we're readjusting the scales to ensure the richest pay their share and working-class Delawareans get a fair shake. When our budget passes, we will reduce income taxes for 92% of Delawareans, the first reduction in decades, and add new brackets for those making more than $125,000, a quarter million dollars, and half a million dollars a year.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Delaware legislature Apr 10, 2025

  • The above quotations are from State of Delaware Politicians: Archives.
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2024 Presidential contenders on Tax Reform:
  Candidates for President & Vice-President:
V.P.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.(I-CA)
Chase Oliver(L-GA)
Dr.Jill Stein(D-MA)
Former Pres.Donald Trump(R-FL)
Sen.J.D.Vance(R-OH)
Gov.Tim Walz(D-MN)
Dr.Cornel West(I-NJ)

2024 presidential primary contenders:
Pres.Joe_Biden(D-DE)
N.D.Gov.Doug Burgum(R)
N.J.Gov.Chris_Christie(R)
Fla.Gov.Ron_DeSantis(R)
S.C.Gov.Nikki_Haley(R)
Ark.Gov.Asa_Hutchinson(R)
Former V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
U.S.Rep.Dean_Phillips(D-MN)
Vivek_Ramaswamy(R-OH)
S.C.Sen.Tim_Scott(R)
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