The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

First 100 Days

Discussion

April 11, 2009

Day 80: Republicans claim proposed budget means more taxes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans say the budget proposed by the Obama administration will require higher taxes in the future and unfairly loads debt onto future generations.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Saturday that President Barack Obama has talked about tax relief, but his budget suggests he’ll be raising taxes.

“I thought President Obama’s proposal to eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses was a pretty good idea. And his pledge to lower taxes for middle-class Americans was something Republicans wholeheartedly supported,” Pawlenty said in the GOP radio and Internet address. “But the budget that Congress is considering doesn’t provide that tax relief.”

Pawlenty said the administration is not eliminating capital gains taxes for small businesses immediately so they can create jobs now but “keeps those taxes high until after Obama’s term in office.”

“The federal government should keep a lid on taxes, control government spending and borrow less — rather than increase the size and scope of the federal government so much that Washington is guaranteeing future tax increases,” Pawlenty said, referring to Obama’s $3.6 trillion budget proposal.

Obama’s Democratic allies in Congress have embraced providing health care to the uninsured, boosting education and promoting clean energy. But they’ve had differing views on how to find billions of dollars to finance the president’s agenda without further exploding the deficit.

Pawlenty said his anti-tax message would be welcomed with the approach of the April 15 tax deadline.

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On the Net:

Republican radio address: http://www.youtube.com/rnc.

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