Bush Taxes the Truth

BUSH FICTION: Bush is a straight talker when it comes to taxes.

FACT: On the stump and in a series of deceptive attack ads, Bush has taken a leading role in misleading America about John Kerry’s record.

THE PRESIDENT: My opponent has a different view of tax relief. When we passed an increase in the child credit to help families, he voted against it.

THE TRUTH: Kerry actually voted to EXPAND the child credit by lowering the eligibility threshold for a refundable child tax credit from $10,500 to $5,000. [2003, #153]

THE PRESIDENT: When we reduced the marriage penalty, he voted against it.

THE TRUTH: Kerry actually voted for FASTER marriage penalty relief; casting a YES vote for Conrad’s amendment to cause marriage penalty relief for those in the 15 percent bracket to take effect in 2002

THE PRESIDENT: When we created a lower 10-percent tax rate for working families, he voted against it.

THE TRUTH: Kerry voted to EXPAND the 10 percent bracket [2003; #168]

THE PRESIDENT: When we gave small businesses a tax incentive to expand and to hire, he voted against it.

THE TRUTH: Kerry voted to CUT taxes for small businesses

· Kerry voted to allow businesses for one year to write off $75,000 in investment, create a 50 percent tax credit for small business health care expenses. [2003, #167]

· Kerry voted to extend the business research and development tax credit through 2013. [2003, #154]

· Kerry voted to extend R&D tax credit and increase first-year write-off for small business. ($4.3 billion tax cut) [1993, #326]

THE PRESIDENT: When tax increases are proposed, it's a lot easier to get a "yes" vote out of him. Over the years, he's voted over 350 times for higher taxes on the American people --

THE TRUTH: Bush’s 350 tax increases charge is completely made up

· “The President misled voters and reporters in a March 20 speech when he claimed that Kerry “voted over 350 times for higher taxes on the American people” during his 20-year Senate career. Bush spoke of “yes” votes for “tax increases.” But in fact, Kerry has not voted 350 times for tax increases, something Bush campaign officials have falsely accused Kerry of on several occasions.” [factcheck.org]

· “The documentation on the GOP Web site about Kerry's supposed 350 votes to increase taxes lists only 67 votes "for higher taxes." Most of these are votes against a tax cut, not in favor of a tax increase. The 67 include nine votes listed twice, three listed three times, and two listed four times. …The only tax increase on Bush's list (counted twice, but hey . . .) is Kerry's support for Clinton's 1993 deficit-reduction plan. That's the one that raised rates in the top bracket and led to a decade of such fabulous prosperity that even its most affluent victims ended up better off.” [Kinsley, Washington Post, 3/24/2004]

Bush-Cheney Tax Claims Misleading and Dishonest

The misleading rhetoric of Bush and his Republican allies has not gone unnoticed. Whether it’s an unsupportable $900 billion in tax increases -- which suddenly grew to a ridiculous $1.7 billion – or the phony numbers that they have put on John Kerry’s tax increases, independent sources are growing skeptical.

· New York Times: Bush “commercial’s assertion is misleading”
”Even Mr. Bush's campaign cites figures saying that such a move would bring in (or cost taxpayers) $250 billion over a 10-year period — not $900 billion. . . . Though independent analysts have questioned how Mr. Kerry can play for his plan, the commercial's assertion is misleading.” [New York Times, 3/13/2004]

· Washington Post: Bush ads fall short of minimum level of honesty
”Voters are entitled to a minimum level of honesty in the argument. On that score, Mr. Bush's initial attacks fall short. … Likewise, it's fair to ask how Mr. Kerry's spending plans can be squared with his pledge to cut the deficit and whether he's overpromising. But the Bush campaign takes an unjustified leap in accusing Mr. Kerry of plotting to "raise taxes by at least $900 billion" because that is the estimated cost of his health care program.” [Washington Post, 3/14/2004]

· Bush uses a “made up number”
"The Bush administration now has an old-fashioned credibility gap. If numbers are released saying that the economy is perking up, why should anyone believe them? After all, it counts hamburger flippers as manufacturing jobs. The context of the election only magnifies the issue. New Bush ads charge that Kerry wants to raise taxes by $900 billion. This is a made-up number; Kerry has no such proposal. But even if he did, voters would not be able to take the Bush campaign's word on it, because its word is no longer good. The challenge for the Democrats is to resist the temptation to make their own phony claims, or to hype the usual petty distortions of politics into "lies." The truth is damaging enough." [Alter, Newsweek, 3/29/2004]

· Bush statements “ridiculous” and “phony”
Bush’s most recent misleading statements about John Kerry’s record on taxes is “unfair,” “ridiculous, and “phony.” [Kinsley, Washington Post, 3/24/2004]

· Campaign accusations are false
“In fact, Kerry has not voted 350 times for tax increases, something Bush campaign officials have falsely accused Kerry of on several occasions.” [Brooks Jackson, FactCheck.org, 3/23/2004]



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