Kerry asks Dean to reveal his 'secret plan' on taxes

[Karmadillo]

http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=31603

Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry called on front-running rival Howard Dean to release details of his “secret plan” to provide a payroll tax credit yesterday.

In a telephone interview from Iowa, Kerry took issue with a new Dean New Hampshire ad, which says in part:

“When some Democrats were supporting the war and defending Bush tax cuts, one candidate for President stood up to George Bush.”

The ad says that Dean opposed the war and will “repeal the Bush tax cuts to provide health insurance for every American and take on the corporate special interests in Washington.”

Kerry said Dean’s plan for a full repeal would “raise taxes on the middle class, while I’m going to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and protect the middle class” by keeping that portion of the Bush tax cuts.

more...

[w4rma]

1. Dean will probably cut payroll taxes and raise/eliminate the cap, IMHO.

…
BY HOWARD DEAN
Friday, August 22, 2003 12:01 a.m. EDT
…
We can do better. As president, my economic policies will be focused and clear. I will begin by repealing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, and using the revenues that result from the repeal to address the needs of the average American, invest in the nation's infrastructure and, through tax reform, put money in the hands of those most likely to spend it.
…
I will give tax reform a top priority in my administration. But unlike the tax initiatives of the current president, my program of tax reform and relief will be targeted to the average Americans who are struggling to make ends meet--not those whose needs are well provided for.
…
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003920

[flpoljunkie]

2. Dean has also said he would balance budget BEFORE any payroll tax relief

Do you honestly think this would sell in a general election?

Yes, Howard Dean, there really were middle class tax cuts.

http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=113

Howard Dean is firmly on the record in favor of repealing both tax-cut bills signed by President Bush in 2001 and 2003, and returning to tax rates that prevailed under Bill Clinton.

That would do more than just canceling some scheduled tax cuts that haven't yet taken effect -- it would clearly require raising taxes from where they are today. The table below, from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Institute, calculates how the Bush cuts are affecting families in various situations for the current tax year. Clearly the affluent gain most, just as they currently pay the most taxes. But a total repeal of the Bush tax cuts would also cost $350 for a single taxpayer making as little as $15,000 a year. And for a typical middle-income family making $50,000 a year, with two children under age 17 qualifying for sweetened per-child tax credits, total repeal would amount to a tax increase of $1,773.

(Click on above link to see entire tax cut chart)

[dansolo]

5. Where they are today is not where they will be in 2005

The middle class tax cuts, as they are today, go away after the election. Unless the tax cuts are made permanent in the upcoming Congressional session, there will be a middle class tax increase no matter who is elected.

[sangh0]

8. Dean will NOT cut payroll taxes

Not when Congress is going to be Republican. Is Dean so dumb he thinks the President writes the tax code?

[robbedvoter]

3. But the polling is not done yet. Which is more popular?

And then, a "vote" amongst followers must take place to justify the change, non?

[stickdog]

4. Why commit to a certain type of tax cut until you see the numbers?

The average person in the US got less than a $200 tax cut.

[AP]

7. He's refusing to commit to a PHILOSOPHY on taxation.

The issue here is clearly allocating the burdens of paying into the national account. You don't need to know the precise numbers for the economy in order to tell people how you expect to allocate the burden.

[AP]

6. Dean has elevated personality above policy in his campaign, and his,

"my tax plan will be ready in a few weeks" line, which he has been delivering since last September, is a good example of how he thinks it's enough to have you think you know his personality in order for him to win.