Issue Position: Taxes

Issue Position

Q: Would you favor tax cuts if they meant a larger federal deficit?

A: Without spending cuts, tax cuts always increase our federal deficit. In these hard times, middle-class families cannot afford higher taxes. I voted for tax cuts for 98% of taxpayers when I voted for the Recovery Act. I'm proud to say that Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman's presidency.

Q: Would you favor a tax increase if it meant a smaller federal deficit?

A: I support the extension of middle class tax cuts, and I hope to see legislation come to the floor to extend the middle class tax cuts this year. Tax cuts for middle class families are critical. America has far greater income inequality today than it had ten years ago, in part because of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2 percent. The wealthiest 400 taxpayers in 2007 -- who earned an average of more than $340 million dollars each that year -- paid only 17 percent of their income in tax, a lower rate than many middle class families.

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