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WASHINGTON, July 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The following is being released by the Republican National Committee:
(LOGO: )
Obama Voted In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget, Which Would Raise Tax Rates For Americans Earning $32,000 Or More:
Obama Voted Twice In Favor Of The Democrats’ FY 2009 Budget Resolution. (S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 51-44: R 2-43; D 47-1; I 2-0, 3/14/08, Obama Voted Yea; S. Con. Res. 70, CQ Vote #142: Adopted 48- 45: R 2- 44; D 44- 1; I 2-0, 6/4/08, Obama Voted Yea)
The Democrats’ Budget Would Raise taxes On Individuals Earning $32,000 Or More. “Under both Democratic plans, tax rates would increase by 3 percentage points for each of the 25 percent, 28 percent and 33 percent brackets. At present, the 25 percent bracket begins at $31,850 for individuals and $63,700 for married couples. The 35 percent bracket on incomes over $349,700 would jump to 39.6 percent.” (Andrew Taylor, “Presidential Hopefuls To Vote On Budget,” The Associated Press, 3/13/08)
The Budget Also Allows “More Than 20 Million Middle-Class Taxpayers To Be Hit By The Alternative Minimum Tax” After Next Year. “The Senate Wednesday approved a $3.1 trillion election-year Democratic budget blueprint that leaves to the next president the task of sorting out a host of fiscal problems. … It also manages to predict small budget surpluses by 2012, but only by permitting several of President Bush’s tax cuts to expire as scheduled at the end of 2010 and by allowing more than 20 million middle-class taxpayers to be hit by the alternative minimum tax, or AMT, after next year.”(Andrew Taylor, “Senate Approves Stand-Pat Democratic Budget Plan,” The Associated Press, 6/4/08)
Yesterday, Obama And His Top Economic Adviser Downplayed The Significance Of His Budget Votes To Raise taxes On Americans Earning $32,000 Or More:
Yesterday, Obama Downplayed His Vote To Raise taxes On Working Americans. Obama: “The budget resolutions are not tax votes. They are, and everyone in Washington knows this, the budget process screwy as it is in Washington, not one that by the way I designed, and frankly I think has to be fundamentally reformed. The budget resolution is to give some parameters in terms of what in fact, what the budget is going to look like in the upcoming year, but it does not purport to actually be a tax bill and every observer who looks at this has said that this is a phony issue on the part of the McCain campaign.” (Sen. Barack Obama, Media Availability, St. Louis, MO, 7/7/08)
Click Here To Watch Obama Downplay His Vote To Raise taxes ()
Obama’s Economic Adviser Jason Furman Called Barack Obama’s Votes To Raise taxes On Those Earning As Little As $32,000 Just “Some Senate Vote.” Furman: “This is a campaign that had a conference call today to unveil their major new economic plan - just a repackaging of what they had before - and all they wanted to talk about was some Senate vote of Barack Obama. Why don’t we have a real debate about what they’re campaign is proposing, which is tax cuts for corporations, and you hope some of them trickle down, and what Barack Obama’s proposing, which is tax cuts for middle class families, zero capital gains for start up and small businesses, tax cuts to help families save and invest and accumulate wealth and really live out the American dream. That’s what this election is about, these two economic philosophies, not playing games with votes, and having your campaign conference call, not even discuss your own economic plan.” (MSNBC’s “MSNBC News Live,” 7/7/08)
Click Here To Watch Jason Furman Call Obama’s Budget Votes Just “Some Senate Vote” ()
FLASHBACK: In March And June Obama Didn’t Think It Was Just “Some Senate Vote”; He Issued Press Releases Praising The “Significant Progress” And “Change” In The Legislation:
In June 2008, Obama Said “The Senate Voted To Stand Up For Working Families In Illinois And Throughout The Nation” By Passing The Democrats’ Final Budget Resolution. Obama: “Today the Senate voted to stand up for working families in Illinois and throughout the nation by rejecting the failed policies of the Bush Administration and moving our country back on track to fiscal discipline. … Our country needs change, and this budget is an important step in the right direction. I commend House and Senate leaders for working together to move this legislation through Congress.”(Sen. Barack Obama, “Statement Of Senator Barack Obama On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget Resolution,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 6/4/08)
– Obama Was “Particularly Pleased” The Budget Included One Of His Amendments. Obama: “I am particularly pleased that the budget includes an amendment I offered to ensure sufficient funds to expedite review of cases where service members may have been erroneously discharged as a result of a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury.” (Sen. Barack Obama, “Statement Of Senator Barack Obama On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget Resolution,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 6/4/08)
In March 2008, Obama Hailed His Vote For The Budget As Making “Significant Progress In Getting Our Nation’s Priorities Back On Track.” Obama: “The budget passed by the Senate tonight makes significant progress in getting our nation’s priorities back on track…. We need change in this country, and this budget is an important step in helping bring it about.” (Sen. Barack Obama, “Obama Statement On The Senate’s Passage Of The FY 2009 Budget,” Press Release, obama.senate.gov, 3/14/08)
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