4 Senate moderates vow limit on tax cuts

Associated Press | 03.14.03 | Alan Fram

[kcvl]

4 Senate moderates vow limit on tax cuts

2003-03-14 By Alan Fram Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -- Four moderate senators signed a letter Thursday stating that any tax-cutting economic growth plan must be limited to a 10-year price tag of $350 billion, dealing a major blow to President Bush's plan for a package twice that size. The stance by the bipartisan group -- which includes two Republicans, Olympia Snowe of Maine and George Voinovich of Ohio -- could be decisive in a Senate the GOP controls by just 51-48, plus a Democratic-leaning independent.

Republicans pushed a plan for cutting spending and erasing federal deficits by 2013 toward passage by the Senate Budget Committee on Thursday despite Democratic objections that it would cut taxes too deeply.

Led by chairman Sen. Don Nickles, R- Ponca City, the panel swatted down Democratic amendments aimed at reducing the $1.3 trillion in tax reductions that the fiscal blueprint would accommodate. In one vote, the committee by a 11-9 margin rejected a proposal to block most new tax cuts and spending until President Bush clarifies the estimated costs of a war with Iraq.

In January, Bush proposed a $726 billion plan whose centerpiece was the elimination of taxes on corporate dividends. The White House has cast the package as a crucial step to jump-starting the economy, creating jobs and nurturing long-term economic growth.

Citing "international uncertainties and debt and deficit projections," the letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said any tax reduction passed this year "must be limited to $350 billion." Anything over that amount must be paid for by savings from elsewhere in the budget, the lawmakers wrote.

[kcvl]

They don't think we deserve any tax-cuts!!!

[Huck]

They don't think we deserve any tax-cuts!!!

Unless we demand spending cuts, maybe we don't.

[Gunslingr3]

any tax reduction passed this year "must be limited to $350 billion." Anything over that amount must be paid for by savings from elsewhere in the budget

As if the GOP would grow some spine and cut spending...

[B4Ranch]

Politicians, like diapers should be changed often. Stop re-electing these 'good' people!

[ConservativeMan55]

What about Zell Miller. He is on our side. That cancels one of the moderate Republicans out.

[mabelkitty]

Well, well, well.

Mr. Voinivich is running for re-election in a debt-ridden state run by Republicans, whose Governor is taxing the hell out of 'em.

He better think again.

I shall give him a call.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Mr. Voinivich is running for re-election in a debt-ridden state run by Republicans, whose Governor is taxing the hell out of 'em."

---

Someone should convince Congressman Rob Portman to take on Voinovich in the Republican primary. With his Cincinnati-area base and unabashedly conservative credentials, the energetic Portman should be an easy choice over Voinovich among Ohio Republicans. Sure, Voinovich will whip Portman in the Cleveland area, but how many Republican primary voters live there? And Portman will beat Eric Fingerhut or whomever the Democrats run in November, since Ohio keeps getting more Republican and since President Bush will be at the top of the GOP ticket.

For those who may worry about the Dems picking up Portman's seat if he doesn't run for re-election, don't. It's one of the most heavily Republican districts in the state.

[xzins]

Ohio republicans have ever been rockefellar republicans. I live in the state. They are fiscal/budget conservatives and social liberals on anything they can get away with.

Governor Taft's first act was a call to raise taxes.

[ilgipper]

Tax cuts are not a 'cost', and do not carry a 'price tag', G-dammit! The Republicans need to fight this concept everytime it is said.

[The Old Hoosier]

Anything over that amount must be paid for by savings from elsewhere in the budget, the lawmakers wrote.

I can wholeheartedly agree with this. Now start cutting!!!

[Stage Fright]

You've pointed out the real problem here.

[Wphile]

Anything over that amount must be paid for by savings from elsewhere in the budget, the lawmakers wrote.

Works for me. I want the tax cuts but if we can get tax cuts and spending cuts, that's even better.

[The Wizard]

we want the whole damn thing

[kcvl]

http://www.senate.gov/~voinovich/webform.htm

[kcvl]

Honorable George V. Voinovich
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3353
TDD: (202) 224-6997


http://www.senate.gov/~voinovich/webform.htm

[hobbes1]

We have the Dem Votes to offset Snowe, and Voinovich.

[mdwakeup]

What the article doesn't tell you is that McCain and Chafee have taken a position that there should be no tax cuts in time of war and that Collins said on Wednesday that a tax cut decision should be deferred until after we know what the war will cost.

You should also know that the GOP budget that the Senate will consider next week does not include all of Bush proposed tax cuts. For example, it does not include any of the Bush savings incentives (lifetime savings accounts, retirement savings accounts, and employer retirement savings accounts). It doesn't include expanding medical savings accounts and making them permanent. And it doesn't protect individuals from the alternative minimum tax after 2005.

As far as I can tell, Miller is the only Dem who will vote for big tax cuts.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Love your response!!!

[hobbes1]

Breaux was on cnbc LAST NITE pretty much supporting the package.

Don't forget there are others that will be up for re-election, in several months....

Bottom Line, the Presdient gets 75-85 % of what he wants.