Policy Memo: John Kerry on Taxes

George W. Bush ^ | August 13, 2004

[RWR8189]

Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR): "Measure 30 Is The Kind Of Thing That John Kerry Would Have Been Four-Square For."

During John Kerry’s visit to Oregon today he’s likely to talk down recent economic gains while promoting his own economic plan which includes raising taxes. Oregonians understand that tax increases are not the way to create jobs and spur the economy. That's why they rejected Ballot Measure 30 (which would have been the largest tax increase in state history) by a 17-point margin.

As Sen. Gordon Smith noted in yesterday's Bush-Cheney '04 conference call, "Oregonians are people who on tax issues are conservative and Measure 30 is the kind of thing that John Kerry would have been four-square for and the kind of thing that President Bush would have opposed." It's easy to see why Senator Smith came to that conclusion given that Kerry has voted 98 times for tax increases totaling more than $2.3 trillion and at least 126 times against tax cuts totaling more than $5.3 trillion. Ballot Measure 30 would have increased taxes on Oregon families, seniors and businesses by $800 million and was defeated 59 percent to 41 percent.

Measure 30 proved to be so unpopular that it failed in nearly every area of the state, including where John Kerry is campaigning on his most recent visit.

• In Jackson County (Medford area), Measure 30 failed 53 percent to 47 percent.
• In Lane County (Eugene area) Measure 30 failed 51 percent to 49 percent.
• In Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington Counties (Portland area), Measure 30 failed 59 percent to 41 percent.

Unfortunately for John Kerry, voters who agree with his plans for higher taxes and more government spending are a minority in Oregon.

Tax increases were a subject of Kerry's remarks yesterday in California, where he told voters, "Our plan will cut the deficit in half by four years – the same thing that we set out to do in 1993, and I was there and I voted for it, I know how we did it." It's unlikely that Kerry will mention the details of what he voted for in 1993 during his remarks in Oregon, considering that he supported the largest tax increase in American history.

Sen. Smith said yesterday, "John Kerry says he will only raise taxes on people like himself, but the truth is he has always voted very consistently to raise taxes on working class people -- whether that’s social security taxes, gas taxes, income taxes -- he has voted for all of them multiple times, and so his rhetoric may be one thing, his voting record is a very, very different thing."

Kerry has already promised to raise taxes if elected President, and his budget numbers simply don't add up. Kerry has yet to tell Oregonians how he will pay for at least 91 of his 133 campaign promises, and at least 21 of them are paid for by repealing President Bush's historic tax cuts. Rolling back the Bush tax cuts, however, will not pay for all of Kerry's new spending regardless of whose estimate is used. Kerry's agenda for higher taxes and more government spending runs against the interests of Oregon voters, and the more Kerry denies it, the worse his credibility problem becomes.

[Diogenesis]