So much of objectivity.
Posted on 05/14/2003 2:48:57 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Tompkins County Democrats spoke in grave tones about President Bush's attempts to push the third largest tax cut in history through Congress.
Speaking at a news conference Friday, local Democrats said the tax cut, expected to total at least $350 billion, is a serious mistake for a nation that faces high unemployment, looming deficits and state budgets in turmoil.
Dan Lamb, district representative for U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D), said 2.5 million jobs have been lost since Bush came to office, the worst record for any president in 50 years. The tax cut will cause greater problems, he said, by creating higher deficits and interest rates.
"The polices of the Republican Party have been digging this nation into a hole." Instead of stopping the dig, Lamb said, "the Republicans want to bring in a back hoe."
Bob Frank, a Cornell economics professor, said the Republicans' embrace of deficits was a cynical way to reduce spending. He compared it to doctors who would try to get rid of a tapeworm by starving the patient. "You have to have some government," he said.
Frank also said he believes the tax cut will be seen later as one of most "wrong-headed" steps in history.
Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton (D-125th District) refuted the Bush plan as "trickle down" economics that would do little to help the nation's neediest. "The problem with too many Republicans is that for every problem, they have one solution:: tax cuts," Lifton said. Lifton also expressed chagrin that Republican Gov. George Pataki had failed to secure a federal aid package for the state's ailing budget.
But GOP Chair Mark Finkelstein said that considering the size of the economy, the proposed tax cut and resulting deficits would be relatively small. "The original tax cut was for $726 billion over 10 years; the economy is 10 trillion dollars," Finkelstein said. "Over 10 years, that is much less than under one percent of the economy."
Opposition to the tax cut "reflects the Democrat's view that they trust the government," Finkelstein continued. "They would prefer for the government to hang on to as much money as possible when we Republicans would like to trust people with more of their own money."
Finkelstein also said the Democrats are ignoring the stimulative effects of the tax cut.
But Democrat Kathy Luz Herrera, who represents the 5th District in the Tompkins County legislature, said the only thing the tax cut would stimulate is campaign contributions.
The Democrats were asked why the Bush administration, facing reelection in 2004, would espouse poor fiscal policy. It is widely believed that George Bush Senior lost the presidency in 1992 because of his failure to address economic concerns, and commentators have repeatedly noted that Bush II wants to avoid his father's mistakes.
Former Assemblyman Marty Luster, who hosted the conference, and other Democrats, said it was further testimony to the arrogance of the administration and the control of the party by right-wing interests.
"They just can't help themselves," Lamb said.
So much of objectivity.
Yes, Kathy...you raise my taxes and I'll be thrilled to send you a contribution.
What a lughead!
Ithaca is the City of Evil.
We will be hearing in a short while the gnashing of teeth from Human Resource Agencies which are numbered by the bus load in "The City of Evil."
The "Feel Good About Yourself on Others Money Gang."
Media bias bump
BRING ON THE TAX CUTS!! MAKE ITHACA SUFFER!!
I must admit a certain grim satisfaction that Governor Pataki's attempts to cut the SUNY budget as it pertains to Cornell make a lot of liberals suffer and, just maybe, force some of these pampered academics to try and survive in the real world.
How the heck did this guy get in?! SECURITY!
Nothing short of a Bush second term could make Ickatha libs more upset than the thought of less money being sucked from the grasp of taxpayers. Be afraid, Ithaca. be very afraid.
"You have to have some government," [Bob Frank, a Cornell economics professor] said.Some government?
Does this twit really think that cutting a few percent out of the federal tax apetite won't leave us with at least some government?
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