US Investors' Group Attacks Kerry's Past Record On Tax

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

02 April 2004

An American shareholder group has issued a damning report into the past voting record of the Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on issues of taxation, accusing him of consistently opposing measures that would have benefited investors.

"The best way to sum up Kerry's record on investor issues - all talk and no action," remarked Daniel Clifton, executive director of the American Shareholders Association. "Based on his voting record, it appears that Kerry believes the only people who own shares of stock are families named Heinz and Kennedy,” he quipped.

"Despite his pro-investor rhetoric, not once has Kerry voted to reduce the capital gains tax, not once has Kerry voted to index capital gains to inflation, and not once has Kerry voted to reduce the double tax on dividends,” Clifton asserted, continuing:

"It is completely disingenuous for Kerry to stand up on stage and say he voted to reduce the capital gains tax. He was a key player in ensuring the reductions that failed over the years never made it through and of the reductions that passed he consistently voted for amendments to strip the capital gains provisions.”

“Investors should not be fooled by Kerry's blatant distortion of the facts on this key issue," Clifton warned.

In defense of Kerry’s record on investment issues, a spokesman for the Democrat candidate, Chad Clanton pointed to the record of the present administration, arguing:

"You can't call (President Bush) successful on the economy when you have the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover."

"This administration has turned record surpluses into record deficits. None of that is good news for investors," he concluded.

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