Posted on 02/10/2007 9:26:03 PM PST by FairOpinion
Republican primary voters should rally around the GOP field's most accomplished supply-sider, the all-but-announced Rudolph W. Giuliani. Having sliced taxes and slashed Gotham's government, New York's former mayor is the leading fiscal conservative among 2008's GOP presidential contenders.
Before Giuliani's January 1, 1994 inauguration, New York's economy was on a stretcher. Amid soaring unemployment, 235 jobs vanished daily. Financier Felix Rohatyn complained: "Virtually all human activities are taxed to the hilt." Punitive taxes helped fuel a $2.3 billion deficit.
Mayor-elect Giuliani sounded Reaganesque when he announced he would "reduce the size and cost of city government" to balance the budget. In his first State of the City address, he said: "We're going to cut taxes to attract jobs so our people can work."
Giuliani spent eight years keeping these promises.
"America's Mayor" cut or killed 23 levies, saving taxpayers $9.8 billion. Giuliani pared Gotham's top income-tax rate by 20.6%. Washington, D.C.'s CFO reported that between 1993 and 2001, local taxes on a family of four New Yorkers earning $50,000 fell 23.7%.
Giuliani cut the commercial-rent tax, curbed sales taxes, and curtailed the marriage penalty on taxpaying couples. Giuliani proudly shaved Gotham's hotel tax from 6% to 5 in 1994. Consequently, that tax's revenues soared from $135 million in Fiscal Year 1995 to $239 million in FY 2001.
Giuliani defends his supply-side instincts with bracing candor. Asked after September 11 if he would hike taxes, Giuliani called that "a dumb, stupid, idiotic, and moronic thing to do."
Giuliani's expenditure growth averaged 2.9% annually, while local inflation between January 1994 and December 2001 averaged 3.6%. His FY 1995 budget decreased outlays by 1.6%, while his post-9/11 FY 2002 plan lowered appropriations by 2.6%.
If President Bush had followed Giuliani's example and limited Washington's spending to 2.9% average, annual growth, the just-unveiled FY 2008 federal budget would cost $2.275 trillion, not $2.9 trillion, saving taxpayers $625 billion, the Cato Institute's Stephen Slivinski estimates. Such Giulianian fiscal discipline would generate a $386 billion surplus, not an anticipated $239 billion deficit.
Giuliani repeatedly privatized municipal assets. Giuliani sold WNYC radio for $20 million, WNYC-TV for $207 million, and Gotham’s share of the U.N. Plaza Hotel for $85 million. Divesting the New York Coliseum excised an eyesore from Columbus Circle and added $345 million to city coffers. Giuliani also let the private Central Park Conservancy manage Manhattan's fabled urban forest.
These eight years of tax reduction and fiscal responsibility helped hammer unemployment from 10.4 percent in 1993 to 5.7 percent in 2001. Simultaneously, personal income advanced 53 percent.
It's hard to compare a two-term ex-mayor, a one-term governor, and a four-term U.S. senator. Nevertheless, Cato's 2006 gubernatorial report card gives former Massachusetts chief executive Mitt Romney a "C." While the top personal tax rate fell 6 percent on his watch, thanks to a referendum voters approved before he arrived, Romney's first budget raised $140 million by closing corporate-tax loopholes. It also featured some $501.5 million in increased fees, including higher marriage licenses (from $4 to $50), pricier gun permits ($25 to $100), a $100 biannual fee for volunteer firefighters (rescinded under pressure), and a $10, previously free, ID card that lets the blind ride Boston public-transit gratis.
Few in Congress expose outrageous federal boondoggles as fervently as does John McCain. However, he is an ambivalent tax fighter. According to Club for Growth research, McCain opposed President Clinton's 1993 tax increases and supported his 1997 capital gains tax cuts. He also voted to extend President Bush's 2003 tax cuts. For 2005, McCain earned a 78% National Taxpayers Union rating -- an "A."
Unfortunately, McCain opposed President Bush’s 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. McCain voted against repealing the Death Tax in 2002. Also, in 1998, McCain embraced former Sen. Tom Daschle's (D.-S.D.) motion to approve Big Tobacco's Master Settlement Agreement, including a $1.10-per-pack cigarette-tax increase.
"I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues," McCain conceded to Wall Street Journal editorialist Stephen Moore. "I still need to be educated."
Conservatives seeking a proven leader to lasso taxes and rein in runaway spending have a natural choice for President: Rudolph W. Giuliani.
No one brings those things up because it doesn't fit the My Way Highway conservative template.
I am not a "pawn" and besides which, that's a silly statement.
Are you claiming that I am being paid to post to FR, by Norquist, of all people?
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Giuliani's gun rules had nothing to do with it. Those muggers weren't licensed, nor could they buy a gun anywhere else. Do you realize that? Rudy took the guns away from the law abiding citizens. Sure, you can have a gun, if your the mayor's good buddy. Otherwise no. Did the muggers use semi-auto rifles? No they didn't. Are citizen's allowed effective self defence against muggers? No!
"I understand in the rural areas of the country gun laws seem nonsensical "
This is ridiculous. It doesn't matter where you live. Do you think your law abiding fellows are out to get ya? You have no idea how many people have guns and live in the city. They're never noticed. All those other States that have conceal carry laws aren't shoot 'em ups ville, like your claim would suggest. They are city areas, and if a law abiding gun owner shoots someone, it's a mugger, rapist, robber, home invader, ect.
"I believe in the second amendment."
No you don't. You think "shall not be infringed", means infringe at will.
I'm trying to not only be civil to you, but kind. You apparently appreciate neither. And I have NEVER "jumped" at any of your posts.
I never told you to NOT post! I questioned WHY you post; especially about things that your posts make patently obvious that you neither understand nor know about.
Good night...............
You too...:-)
The ONLY thing that a certain group here wants to SPAM, is Rudy in costume for a T.V. show and the INNER CIRCLE dinner and abortion. Oh yes, they also delight in personal attacks. slander, libel, and being a school yard bully. *shrugs*
The other day I listened to a talk show where the pitch was that that Giuilani's abortion stance was the critical issue. The truth is that people who hold proper moral values won't opt for abortions, and it has always been, just as abortions will always be in demand and provided, ilegally or not. Abortion is a moral dispute. Laws can and will be raised against it, but it is only through right values that it can be battled.
The freedom to protect yourself, your country, your loved ones, and your property through means of bearing arms is about rights. It is only through the passing of laws that rights can be battled. We'd better be careful who *cough* schwarzenegger *cough* we hand power. I'd love to trust Rudy, but the right to bear arms trumps all.
Abortion is not a legal issue. The right to bear arms IS. There is no comparison between the two, and the Second Amendment question is the important thing Republicans AND conservatives (whoever's going to vote to keep the Democrat out of the White House) should weigh.
Very nicely stated. While one can't prove a negative, in the art of rhetoric, from where does your conviction that Mayor Giuliani opposes firearm possession come?
Being Chief Exec of the USA does not necessarily carry the same powers as those of the NYC Mayor. I would like to think Mr. Giuliani has already made this differentiation.
That said, if it came down to a race between him and Hillary, of course any sensible person would vote for Giulani, IMO. But better, don't have it boil down to that choice. It's why we have primaries.
McCain and Hillary won't happen. McCain would explode before he made it. Then again, Hillary might, too! Affirmative action in Captain Queegdom.
...dishonest rhetorical ...
It occurs to me that IF Hillary was elected, it's inevitable that she would be the most loathed president in history. People would grow to hate and despise her. She is a shrew in every way -- she is the ultimate nanny-minded harping control-freak, and her politics, like her voice, reflect it.
Some folks don't bother with pesky minutia like facts getting in their way. They're just like the libs who scream the "Bush's Fault" mantra.
I think we have a couple of Beast supporting trolls on this forum, and they're just warming up for a bash Rudy face-off between Rudy and The Beast.
I think we have a couple of Beast supporting trolls on this forum, and they're just warming up for a bash Rudy face-off between Rudy and The Beast.
Great minds think alike. Those two show up like clock work.
I wonder if they get points from the DU crowd and cash them in after the election to see who gets a kiss from The Beast.
Giuliani has the same mentality... take away guns for the "common good."
My CONSTITIONAL rights do not end at the New York city limits...
For personal reasons having little to do with Rudy's policy positions. Did you know that?
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