The Associated Press: on Tax Reform
Robert Menendez:
We cannot simultaneously cut the deficit and cut taxes
Menendez [says] his Republican opponent supported tax cuts for the wealthy. Menendez has sought to present himself as the champion of the middle class, and to lump his opponent with the extreme wing of the Republican
Party, arguing that he cannot simultaneously cut the deficit and cut taxes, as Kyrillos has proposed. (Menendez borrowed from Obama, who borrowed from former President Bill Clinton: "That arithmetic doesn't work.")
Source: Associated Press on 2012 N.J. Senate debate
Oct 5, 2012
Paul Sadler:
Allow tax cuts to expire for nation's wealthiest residents
Democrats Paul Sadler and Sean Hubbard agreed on the issues, but still posed a stark contrast. Sadler is a seasoned former state legislator, while Hubbard is a 31-year-old party activist. Both expressed support for
President Barack Obama's health care laws, Planned Parenthood clinics and allowing tax cuts to expire for the nation's wealthiest residents.
Source: Associated Press in CBS DFW on 2012 Texas Senate debate
May 4, 2012
Paul Sadler:
Allow tax cuts to expire for nation's wealthiest residents
Democrats Paul Sadler and Sean Hubbard agreed on the issues, but still posed a stark contrast. Sadler is a seasoned former state legislator, while Hubbard is a 31-year-old party activist. Both expressed support for
President Barack Obama's health care laws, Planned Parenthood clinics and allowing tax cuts to expire for the nation's wealthiest residents.
Source: Associated Press on ABC News on 2012 Texas Senate debate
May 3, 2012
Dino Rossi:
Extend Bush tax cuts; allow entrepreneurs to be successful
Murray continually hammered Rossi for supporting extension of the Bush-era tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. She said those tax breaks take away revenue that could be used for Social Security and health programs. "If Rossi gets his way and extends the
Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans to the tune of almost $1 trillion, there is no way to sustain the programs so important to us," Murray said.Rossi hammered Murray as a 3-term incumbent who constantly voted for bigger government programs and
more government control of business. "You have an 18-year incumbent killing jobs in the state of Washington in vote after vote," Rossi said. "I want to allow entrepreneurs to be successful."
As she has done throughout the campaign, Murray sought to
paint Rossi as a friend to Wall Street & big banks. Rossi, a real estate developer, branded Murray as a big-spending liberal. The candidates referred constantly to the fight over extending the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts to individuals making more than $200,000
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 WA Senate debate
Oct 14, 2010
Patty Murray:
Extending Bush tax cuts reduces social & health programs
Murray continually hammered Rossi for supporting extension of the Bush-era tax cuts that benefit the wealthy. She said those tax breaks take away revenue that could be used for Social Security and health programs. "If Rossi gets his way and extends the
Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans to the tune of almost $1 trillion, there is no way to sustain the programs so important to us," Murray said.Rossi hammered Murray as a 3-term incumbent who constantly voted for bigger government programs and
more government control of business. "You have an 18-year incumbent killing jobs in the state of Washington in vote after vote," Rossi said. "I want to allow entrepreneurs to be successful."
As she has done throughout the campaign, Murray sought to
paint Rossi as a friend to Wall Street & big banks. Rossi, a real estate developer, branded Murray as a big-spending liberal. The candidates referred constantly to the fight over extending the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts to individuals making more than $200,000
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 WA Senate debate
Oct 14, 2010
Marco Rubio:
Extend Bush tax cuts, even for high earners
There were obvious differences between Meek and Rubio. Meek supported the economic stimulus package and said it kept the country from going into a depression; Rubio said it was a failure. Meek said he would vote for the health care overhaul again and
Rubio said it should be repealed. Meek wants to continue President George W. Bush's tax cuts for all except those who make more than $250,000, Rubio wants them extended for all earners."You think government creates jobs," Rubio said to
Meek, cutting him off.
"No, I don't," Meek said.
"You do," Rubio said.
"I think tax cuts for small businesses create jobs and incentives for local communities to move forward," Meek said.
Crist added, "What you just witnessed is the problem
and the reason I'm running as an independent. These two guys are going at each other because one's the Republican right, one's the Democratic left. What's true is there are good things that both parties can present to the future of our country."
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 Florida Senate Debate
Oct 6, 2010
Blanche Lambert Lincoln:
The ultrawealthy should not receive tax cuts
The two disagreed over the tax cuts that were instituted under former President George W. Bush, with Lincoln calling for extending the cuts for low to moderate income taxpayers.
Lincoln, however, said that extending the tax cuts for the wealthy should only be done if it can be paid for. "The ultrawealthy, I do not think should receive that tax cut unless it is paid for in a responsible way, and that's an important thing we have
Boozman said he supports extending all of the tax cuts and said that not extending them for the higher income taxpayers would hurt small business owners. "The last thing we need to do in this economy is raise expenses on
small businesses, especially on small businesses that are making money," Boozman said. "That makes no sense at all."
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 Arkansas Senate debate
Sep 10, 2010
Blanche Lambert Lincoln:
National sales tax of 23% is just a bad idea for Arkansans
Lincoln criticized Boozman's past support of allowing workers to invest their Social Security taxes in private accounts , saying it would privatize the system and hurt retirees. She also criticized Boozman for co-sponsoring legislation that would replace
the federal income tax with a national sales tax. "The 23 percent sales tax is just a bad idea for Arkansans," Lincoln said. "It is replacing your federal income tax with a 23 percent consumption tax on anything you purchase, anything from your
bread to your tires to your home to your car."
Boozman defended his position on Social Security and said that private accounts should be looked at as an option.
Boozman said that he's open to the idea of the national sales tax and said it would simplify taxes for Americans.
"I think it's something that needs to be looked at. I would love to get rid of the IRS," Boozman said.
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 Arkansas Senate debate
Sep 10, 2010
Stephen Pagliuca:
Raise federal capital gains tax should from 15% to 20%
Stephen Pagliuca said the federal capital gains tax should be raised from 15 percent to 20 percent, adding that the rich should pay an equitable share of the country's bills. Pagliuca said the tax hike would not deter investment whi
the country's $1.5 trillion budget deficit and $13 trillion debt. "If you went crazy and raised the capital gains tax to 30 or 40 percent, yes, it would cut off investment. That would be a very bad thing to do. But in that (lower)
create revenue. That revenue comes from the wealthiest Americans," Pagliuca said.Further strumming a populist chord, Pagliuca said he disagreed with the Bush-era tax cuts. "I think it got too far out of control in terms of squeez
class and there were too many breaks, and I didn't believe in the trickle down," he said.
Source: Associated Press in Boston Herald, "33% capital gains
Nov 11, 2009
John Neely Kennedy:
Cut taxes & stop deficit-spending, to fight economic crisis
Kennedy focused on the country’s economic crisis rather than presidential politics as he faced off with Landrieu. He said Congress should cut taxes so people have more money to spend and pay bills, should stop deficit-spending and should put limits on
the nation’s banks and lending firms.The state treasurer didn’t mention Landrieu’s endorsement for Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, an endorsement Kennedy has used to describe Landrieu as a “tax-and-spend liberal.”
Source: 2008 Louisiana Senate Debate by Associated Press on NOLA.com
Oct 16, 2008
Jeff Sessions:
Bush tax cuts have helped the economy
Sessions says, “I’ve seen people in Mobile buy $5 worth of gas. That’s all they had. It just drives home that this surge in gasoline prices is sucking out large amounts of our
American wealth that they could otherwise be using on other things important to them.”Figures said people are “really finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.
You hear that more than anything else--economy and gas prices.“
”Look where we are. We went from a nation in the black to a nation in the red. Now we’re up to trillions of dollars in the red,“ she said. ”My opponent voted with the president
98 percent of the time.“
But Sessions said the Bush tax cuts have helped the economy and he would vote to make them permanent. However, he broke with the Bush administration in voting against the financial bailout bill on Oct. 1.
Source: 2008 Alabama Senate Debate; Associated Press on www.AL.com
Oct 11, 2008
Dwight Grotberg:
Abolish the estate tax
He supports tax cuts, particularly the abolition of the federal estate tax and the continuation of a tax break that allows for more rapid depreciation of farm equipment.
Federal law calls for the estate tax to be phased out, but it could be reinstituted in five years if the law is not changed to make it permanent. Conrad has not favored permanent repeal of the estate tax.
Source: By Dale Wetzel, Associated Press, in Times Online
Mar 27, 2006
Dwight Grotberg:
Allow more rapidly depreciating farm equipment
Grotberg supports the continuation of a tax break that allows for more rapid depreciation of farm equipment. Grotberg said the depreciation measure has helped farmers upgrade their equipment, and provided a boost to rural machinery dealers,
Grotberg said. More rapid equipment depreciation helps farmers reduce their tax bills. “As a producer and as a business owner, it’s a tremendous tool to be able to expand and update machinery and equipment when you need to,” he said.
Source: By Dale Wetzel, Associated Press, in Times Online
Mar 27, 2006
Betty Castor:
Tax cuts must reward people who work hard for a living
Q: Would you support repealing Bush’s tax cuts under any conditions?CASTOR: Tax cuts must reward people who work hard for a living, not just the wealthy. Tax policy must also reward businesses that create jobs in America, not those that send jobs
overseas. I support tax relief for middle-class families like the child tax credit, an end to the marriage penalty and the 10% tax bracket for lower-income Americans. I support tax incentives for businesses that create jobs here at home and would impose
tax penalties on companies that ship jobs overseas.
MARTINEZ: Decreasing taxes permanently will permit Americans to save more of the dollars they earn and allow them to decide how to spend their money. As Orange Co. chairman, I was able to cut property
taxes by millions of dollars while managing government efficiently and increasing services like after-school care and health clinics. The most important step Congress can take to continue strong economic growth is to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent.
Source: Florida Senate Debate, Q&A by Associated Press
Oct 24, 2004
Mel Martinez:
Make Bush’s tax cuts permanent for strong economic growth
Q: Would you support repealing Bush’s tax cuts under any conditions?CASTOR: Tax cuts must reward people who work hard for a living, not just the wealthy. Tax policy must also reward businesses that create jobs in America, not those that send jobs
overseas. I support tax relief for middle-class families like the child tax credit, an end to the marriage penalty and the 10% tax bracket for lower-income Americans. I support tax incentives for businesses that create jobs here at home and would impose
tax penalties on companies that ship jobs overseas.
MARTINEZ: Decreasing taxes permanently will permit Americans to save more of the dollars they earn and allow them to decide how to spend their money. As Orange Co. chairman, I was able to cut property
taxes by millions of dollars while managing government efficiently and increasing services like after-school care and health clinics. The most important step Congress can take to continue strong economic growth is to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent.
Source: Florida Senate Debate, Q&A by Associated Press
Oct 24, 2004
Michael McCaul:
Eliminate all taxes except for a national sales tax
I think religiously I was raised to serve others. That’s what motivates me. He said his first goal in Washington will be to work toward making Bush’s tax cuts permanent, then push for a change in the tax code. “We have a system incredibly complex,”
he said. “No one understands it. It’s easy to cheat if you’re dishonest and almost impossible to comply with if you’re honest.” He favors a consumption-based tax, eliminating all taxes except for a national sales tax.
Source: Terrorism vigilance waning, Associated Press
Apr 14, 2004
Dennis Kucinich:
Keep child tax credit, and extend it to more families
Q: Which of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 would you change?A: I will repeal the tax cuts to the very wealthy, restoring the top two and a half income brackets and taxes on investments and estates (modifying the estate tax to protect small farms).
I will retain the child tax credit expansion and extend it to the low-income families who were left out. I will retain the elimination of the marriage penalty.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Taxes”
Jan 25, 2004
Howard Dean:
End corporate welfare, close loopholes, pay fair share
Q: Which of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 would you change, if any?A: I plan to roll back all of George W. Bush’s reckless tax cuts so we can pay for health care reform and balance the budget. Then I will introduce real tax reform to make the tax code
fairer and simpler for working families. We’ll ensure that corporations and wealthy Americans pay their fair share, close loopholes and end the corporate welfare that has left middle class Americans footing the country’s tax bill.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Taxes”
Jan 25, 2004
John Edwards:
New tax cuts to 95% of Americans
Q: Which of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 would you change, if any?A: I will repeal the Bush tax cuts that benefit only the top 2 percent of Americans.
I will also impose a new tax on unearned income for the top 1 percent. At the same time, I will offer new tax cuts to 95 percent of Americans.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Taxes”
Jan 25, 2004
John Kerry:
Keep child tax credit, and new 10% tax bracket
Q: Which of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 would you change, if any?A: I will roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. However, I don’t believe that we should be raising taxes on the middle class.
Specifically, I want to protect the increases in the child tax credit, the reduced marriage penalty, and the new 10 percent tax bracket that helps people save $350 on their first level of income.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Taxes”
Jan 25, 2004
Joseph Lieberman:
New tax cuts to 95% of taxpayers
Q: Which of the tax cuts enacted in 2001 would you change, if any?A: Here’s what I’ll do: Repeal the tax cuts for the wealthy; maintain the tax cuts for the middle class, including the increase in the child tax credit
and elimination of the marriage penalty; cut taxes for 98 percent of taxpayers; restore the dividend tax that Bush repealed; reform the estate tax that Bush repealed; eliminate wasteful corporate loopholes and subsidies that Bush has protected.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Taxes”
Jan 25, 2004
Wesley Clark:
Eliminate income tax for families earning under $50,000
Q: Which of the 2001 tax cuts would you change?A: I support tax reform to make the tax code fairer, simpler, more progressive and more pro-growth. My plan will relieve the squeeze on middle-class families by eliminating federal income taxes entirely
for families with children making less than $50,000 annually and by lowering taxes for all families making less than $100,000. I propose recapturing the portions of Bush’s tax cuts that went to the wealthiest Americans and using the money to create jobs.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Taxes”
Jan 25, 2004
Joseph Lieberman:
Fresh Start on tax cuts for 98% of all taxpayers
In a new 30-second TV ad, Lieberman says that the campaign should be about “expanded access to health care, tax cuts for 98% of taxpayers and deficit reduction to protect Social Security. That would be a fresh start,” Lieberman says.The ad is the 3rd
of his campaign. As in the others, Lieberman talks directly into the camera while sitting in a diner. Lieberman’s earlier ads touted his reputation for moral certitude, criticized Republicans’ tax proposals and assailed Bush’s postwar policies in Iraq.
Source: Liz Sidoti, Associated Press in Washington Post
Nov 14, 2003
George W. Bush:
Get bigger paychecks in people’s pockets fast
Bush highlighted various groups of Americans that would benefit from the 10-year, $1.6 trillion tax reduction. A Bush adviser said, “We hope that we can accelerate the tax cut, or at least a major portion of it, to the start of this year - get bigger
paychecks in people’s pockets, smaller withholding as soon as possible.” Another Bush spokesman said, “The president intends to highlight that under his fair, responsible tax-relief plan, the typical American family will get to keep $1,600 more of their
hard-earned money.“ Bush says the tax cut is necessary to stave off a recession, and many Democrats agree, although some believe a smaller cut of less than $1 trillion over 10 years is in order. Bush warned of ”troubling“ economic signs as he pitched
the tax-cut plan and Democrats responded that the proposal would disproportionately help the wealthy. The Democrats also argued that Bush’s tax cut and increased spending on improving schools, the military and Medicare would bring new deficits.
Source: Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press
Feb 5, 2001
George W. Bush:
Claim that every taxpayer gets relief isn’t true
Bush said: “Everybody who pays taxes is going to get tax relief.” He would cut all tax rates, but a bipartisan congressional panel has found that nearly 27 million Americans might not get the full benefit because they would have to pay another tax
originally designed to prevent investors and the wealthy from sheltering too much of their income. The panel said some taxpayers would get no break at all from Bush’s plan, because of the so-called alternative minimum tax.
Source: Associated Press analysis of St. Louis debate
Oct 17, 2000
Steve Forbes:
Top priority: throw out tax code
Forbes called for an overhaul of the tax system. The new year should bring a new brand of politics, and throwing out the tax code is the top priority, he said. “Is there anybody in America today who believes this tax code is working?” he asked.
“It’s an atrocity, an abomination. As a free people we should decide what kind of code we have.” Forbes, who supports a 17% flat tax, also criticized a tax cut suggested by the Clinton administration, which would target specific groups.
Source: Associated Press, in The Enterprise (Brockton MA), p. A9
Jan 4, 2000
Gary Bauer:
Family friendly tax plan: 20% less payroll tax
Bauer proposes to end most deductions and credits, and tax most income at a flat 16% rate. Bauer announced his “family-friendly” tax plan, which would eliminate all deductions except those for home mortgage interest and charitable contributions, and
couple his flat tax rate with a 20% reduction in the payroll tax, which funds Social Security. He would not require taxpayers to invest in private retirement accounts, but would reduce projected increases in Social Security benefits for future retirees.
Source: Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press
Sep 23, 1999
Gary Bauer:
Flat tax: $1,400 personal exemption; no capital gains rate
Bauer he would tax capital gains at the same 16% rate as wages and profits. Bauer’s plan gives taxpayers a credit of $1,400 per person that could be used to offset both income and payroll taxes, unlike current credits that apply only to income taxes.
This new credit would replace the current personal exemption, child care tax credit, and other tax credits. Businesses no longer could deduct the cost of investments in machinery and equipment, but would see their payroll taxes cut by 20%.
Source: Jonathan D. Salant, Associated Press
Sep 23, 1999
Orrin Hatch:
Simplify the “IRS monster”
Hatch advocates reforming the nation’s tax laws and shrinking the Internal Revenue Service, calling the agency a “monster” that needs to be simplified. Hatch has advocated increasing the cigarette tax to provide more money for children’s health insurance
Source: Associated Press
Aug 13, 1999
Elizabeth Dole:
Tax cuts are top priority; eliminate marriage penalty
Dole said that tax cuts must be a top priority for presidential hopefuls, but she also called for more government spending in several areas, including defense and crime fighting. Dole said she wants to eliminate the so-called marriage penalty tax
structure that causes some married couples to pay more in taxes than people who are single.
Source: Mary Neubauer, Associated Press
Jul 12, 1999
Mike Huckabee:
No tax increase under any circumstances
I would not support any tax increase under any circumstances. There needs to be significant reductions in spending, not an increase in taxes.
Source: Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate Debate
Nov 1, 1992
Page last updated: Feb 15, 2019