Aug. 8 -- Do you favor extending tax cuts enacted during the Bush Administration? Do you think the national deficit can be controlled if the tax cuts are extended or enlarged?

Independents

Tim Johnson: I do favor extending the tax cuts for the lower and middle classes because they typically stimulate the economy most through consumer spending, which creates jobs and eventually benefits wealthy Americans. However, I think the tax cuts should be repealed for the upper class. In my view, the national deficit can best be controlled through a combination of tax cuts for the lower and middle class that stimulates spending and closing tax loopholes that have been exploited by too many individuals and corporations.

Tim Johnson
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Robert Raymond could not be reached.

Democrats

Tim Carpenter: I support repealing the Bush tax cuts for those making over $200,000 per year. The Bush tax cuts for the wealthy have squandered record budget surpluses and exploded the deficit. I support a tax plan that does not take advantage of workers in order to favor big business and the wealthy. In Wisconsin, I have fought to stop corporation cheats from moving their income to shell corporations in Nevada and paying $0 in taxes here. I will also fight against corporate tax loopholes in Congress. The corporations and wealthy who benefit most from the stable and safe infrastructure and society provided by our government should not be able to avoid paying their fair share of taxes by filing some papers that move their “headquarters” offshore.

Tim Carpenter
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Matt Flynn: I would oppose extending, and in fact I would roll back, the Bush tax cuts given to the wealthiest people in this country. I would extend, and would not repeal, tax cuts directed to the lower income and middle class. The Bush tax cuts have taken a large surplus and turned it into a $500 billion deficit. He is proposing in his upcoming budget to further cut taxes by approximately $36 billion on people whose incomes are more than $1 million a year. At the same time, he is proposing an additional $26 billion in domestic spending cuts. The economic policies of George Bush and the Republican Congress are based on what is called “starving the beast” - - that is, starving the cash out of all of the social programs that they opposed in the first place - - e.g., Head Start, Medicare. Bush should be removed from office for in effect dismantling and taking the accumulated wealth of this country that has been built up since the Roosevelt administration.

Matt Flynn
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Gwen Moore: I strongly oppose extending the tax cuts enacted during the Bush Administration that benefit the wealthy few and have caused record deficits and skyrocketing national debt which as reached $7 trillion. In Wisconsin, 1.2 million people, or 48% of taxpayers, received less than $100 from the 2003 tax cuts. In 2006, 87 percent of Wisconsin taxpayers will receive less than $100. And in return each Wisconsin resident faces an added burden of over $9000 in federal debt. These tax cuts have cost us dearly and we have gotten little in return. In Congress, I will support the repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and push for targeted tax relief for low- and middle-income families who need it most.

Gwen Moore
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Republicans

Gerald H. Boyle: As previously noted, I favor making the tax cuts permanent. The reason we are in a deficit right now is because of two reasons :1) the
recession in 2000-2001 and 2) 9/11 and the resulting War on Terror. As the
economy continues to grow at an unprecedented rate Tax revenues will rise and the deficit will lessen. However, as long as we are at war there will
be deficits but I think smart management of both fiscal and monetary policy will decrease any effects of the deficit.

Gerald Boyle
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Corey Hoze: did not respond.

Corey Hoze
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