Posted on 11/25/2007 4:13:31 PM PST by advance_copy
MC LEAN, VA, Nov. 25 -- "Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee has been hit with criticism over his record on taxes as governor of Arkansas. The faultfinders have been members of his own party, who take issue with tax increases he enacted. In recent interviews on Fox News, Huckabee responded to some of these questions, but we found him to be misleading and incorrect on several points:" (www.FactCheck.org, 11/21/07)
- Huckabee frequently says he cut taxes "almost 94 times" but leaves out the 21 taxes raised during his tenure. In the end, he presided over a net tax increase.
- Huckabee claimed a gasoline tax was only passed after 80 percent of voters approved it. Not true. The tax was enacted before a referendum vote on highway repairs.
- Huckabee claimed that a speech in which he implored the state Legislature to raise taxes was in response to a state Supreme Court order to increase education funding. But he specifically said in that speech that he would address the education matter at a later date.
- He said a tax on beds filled in nursing homes was a "fee" not a tax, despite the fact that he himself has called it the "bed tax."
Average Arkansan's tax burden increased by over 47% between 1997 and 2005 (or $933 per person). (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 10/9/07)
Both Mike Huckabee and Bill Clinton earned a "D" lifetime rating on the Cato Institute's scorecard of governors. Huckabee received a "F" rating for his last two years in office. (www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=6724; www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=1027)
Under Huckabee, 21 tax increases went into effect, increasing tax revenue by almost $890 million. (Arkansas Democrat Gazette, 10/9/07)
Examples: sales tax, income tax, gas tax, cigarette tax, nursing home bed tax
Allowed a 17% sales tax increase to become law without his signature, the largest tax increase in state history. "A spokesman for Gov. Mike Huckabee said that, if the bill reaches his desk, the governor would allow the tax increase to become law without his signature." (Associated Press, 2/6/04)
Under Huckabee, state spending increased by over 65%, three times the rate of inflation. (Americans for Tax Reform, "Governor Huckabee's Record on Taxes," 1/7/07)
Huck is not a “conservative”, he’s a populist RINO huckster!
Yes, we hate hate hate the *other* Republican candidates, don’t we?
Feel the love.
I forget Reagan’s 11th Commandment.... What was it again?
OK, I’ve just reviewed some of your recent posts. All hate, all the time.
Let me remind you of Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of a fellow Republican.”
Maybe cut the ad hominems, would you?
“I forget Reagan’s 11th Commandment.... What was it again?”
Reagan never instructed conservative activists not to criticize phony RHINOs among themselves. Attacking RHINOs is pretty much a large part of what we Reagan people are here to do at FR.
“...not a conservative” - Amen
Fred Thompson is right on the issues.
Fred Thompson can beat Hillary in the general election.
Fred Thompson is my candidate for president.
We sure don’t need another liar from Hope, now do we?
I suppose the next thing we’ll see is “The Huckster” and “RuPaul” will be teaming up for a “Bizarro World” ticket... and it looks like they’ll even have a few supporter here on FreeRepublic. God help us!
Calling him out on his record is not “attacking”.
And the voters approved the referendum by 80%.
Arkansans dislike taxes like everyone else, but the people will tolerate them if the money is used properly.
The roads are much better now, which is explains why you won't hear many complaints here about the gasoline tax. Huckabee did an excellent job on improving the highways at a reasonable cost.
All I need to know. Does not match his sales pitch at all.
That's so true. :)....of course, some @ FR would rather lose (Fringe groupie like 9/11 "Truthers") the General Election....thereby helping the Klintoons' Sycophants
and reason(s) given;
....I'm taking my *insert Item here*...home now...so to hell w/ you....b/c You/I can't agree, 2+2=4.
....I got my, panties in a knot
....their favorite candidate was caught in mid-Flip/flop. :)
>> Yes, we hate hate hate the *other* Republican candidates, don’t we?
Dude, calling Huckster what he is — a populist RINO — is NOT hate. It’s just a fact.
Hard to respect the opinion of someone who uses “Dude”.
And just for the record: maybe Arkansas NEEDED to raise taxes because their roads were like washboards. You could've broken an axle on some of them. I hate taxes as much as anyone, but when it comes to basic infrastructure, unless you never use the roads yourself, stick a crowbar in your wallets, pay your share and shut up.
>> Hard to respect the opinion of someone who uses “Dude”.
It’s a free country, du... oops, I mean pal. Or buddy. Or whatever makes your socks roll up and down.
So don’t respect my opinion. Who cares.
You a Huckabee syncophant?
I just wish we could turn down the hateful rhetoric, and merely point out a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses, without having to stoop to ridicule.
FWIW, I’m liking Fred (and maybe Hunter), but I’m not going to smear other candidates in order to lift up Fred.
>> Nope, it’s irrational nonsense, born out of unthinking partisan loyalty to a certain candidate and cherry-picking things out of context.
Spare me.
“unthinking partisan loyalty”? So who do you think I’m /for/, All-Seeing All-Knowing Oracle? You have one guess.
Huck “fin” (because it’s over for him) IS a populist. All the evidence I need is in his class warfare podium-pounding.
Huck “fin” (because he’s done, stick a fork in him) is a RINO because he’s a tax-and-spend pro-amnesty liberal at his core.
Therefore, Huck “fin” is a populist RINO.
Get it?
Just not a juvenile, which you obviously are.
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