Bush Minces No Words Over Tax Hikes

by Leroy Baker, Tax-News.com, New York

08 January 2002

Flexible as ever on the issue of taxation, President George W. Bush responded to Democrat calls for a slowdown in the introduction of his planned $1.35 trillion dollar tax cut scheme with an unequivocal 'over my dead body'.

Speaking in Ontario this weekend, Dubya dubbed the proposed slower phase-in a tax raise in disguise, arguing: 'I challenge their economics when they say a raise in taxes will help the country recover. Over my dead body will they raise your taxes.'

President Bush also hit back at Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, over what he saw as stalling on the post-September 11th economic stimulus package. 'Some in the Senate seem to think we can afford to do nothing, that the economy will get better on its own sooner or later,'he jibed during his Saturday radio address.

However, in the last week, Daschle has unveiled his own tax masterplan, outlining revised ideas for tax cuts, and calling for a return to 'fiscal discipline', which latter proposal was strongly resisted by the Chief Treasury Spokesperson, Michele Davis on Monday.

Recommended