GOP SHOULD SWING THE AX AT SPENDING, NOT AT TAXES.(MAIN)
Albany Times Union (Albany, NY) March 24, 1995 Byline: JAMES K. GLASSMAN WASHINGTON Republicans should immediately shelve their plans to cut taxes this year and instead devote all their energy to cutting spending.
Don’t get me wrong. I think taxes are too high. They now consume a bigger share of the average family’s expenses than housing, food, clothing and medical costs combined. High taxes are a drag on economic growth and a license for government to increase wasteful spending. And our current tax system bears much of the blame for the shamefully low U.S. savings rate.
For these reasons, tax reform is a necessity, and a flat tax or a consumption tax is almost certainly the best answer. But such changes can’t possibly be approved in 1995 or even 1996. Americans need a full-scale debate, preferably during a presidential campaign.
Instead of building support for major reform later, the Republican strategy this year is to enact a typical Christmas-tree tax bill, festooned with baubles for businesses, investors, retirees and middle-class families. President Clinton introduced his own, smaller tax-cut plan in February.
Tax relief is normally a crowd pleaser, but not today. On fiscal matters, Americans seem to have just one thought in mind: Balance the budget. Only 13 percent of respondents to an NBC-Wall Street Journal poll said taxes were the “most important economic issue facing the country,” while nearly three times as many said it was the deficit. go to website christmas tree tax
Politicians are at last starting to notice how the public is ordering its priorities. On Capitol Hill last week, I found no members who were truly enthusiastic about tax cuts. Economists aren’t clamoring for them either. With gross domestic product rising nicely, the cuts aren’t needed as a short-term economic stimulus; on the contrary, they’ll probably boost inflation. web site christmas tree tax
So the logical conclusion is to forget taxes entirely for this year. Unfortunately, the Republican Contract with America has a mind of its own.
Last week, the tax-relief bill passed the Ways and Means Committee on a party-line vote. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the House next week, and already dozens of Republicans are asking House Speaker Newt Gingrich to scale it back.
If the tax bill passes, it goes next to the Senate Finance Committee, whose chairman, Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Ore., has indicated that his panel would give it a frosty reception. Packwood is a big thinker who almost certainly would prefer reforming the whole tax system but only after spending is cut, a step he believes will lead to lower interest rates as the government’s borrowing requirements fall.
Either a consumption tax or a flat tax would remedy two of the greatest problems of the current system that it’s too complicated and that it imposes marginal rates so high they discourage investing. The flat tax also has an amazing appeal that many politicians have overlooked: Americans at all income levels believe it’s more fair than what we have now; they suspect that fat cats use loopholes to avoid their fair share.
Kellyanne Fitzpatrick of the Luntz Research Cos. of Arlington, Va., the firm that helped House GOP leaders draw up the Contract With America, says that Luntz has conducted polling nationwide and focus groups in three cities, and the results are clear: “The flat tax is a big home run for everybody.” Gingrich would be nuts to ignore that kind of sentiment. He should postpone the tax-relief vote indefinitely, concentrate on spending cuts and lay the groundwork for Republicans to run on a flat-tax platform next year unless Clinton is clever enough to beat them to it.
James K. Glassman writes regularly on financial affairs for The Washington Post.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Thinking of you and all your family…. love J,F & L.G
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Thinking of you and your family. You will be in my prayers.
anne’s last blog post..Chocolate Treat!
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I’ll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
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Oh Cherrye. Thinking of you and your family, praying hard. Hope P is able to go with you, but imagine that might not have been possible. Hoping and praying everything will be okay.
And . . I’m struck by your composure and thoughtfulness in letting us know where you are in the midst of all the craziness that must have been last night. It’s important because it lets us add to the prayer stream originating in Texas.
xoo
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Just a quick note since it was brought up, and I don’t think Cherrye would mind my mentioning it, but thank goodness, Peppe was able to go with Cherrye to TX and be with her and her family during this difficult time.
You know I’m thinking of you cara.
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Oh Cherrye, BIG hug.
Sending love and healing thoughts to you and your family right now. 
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Hoping and praying for the best. K
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Cherrye, I’m so sorry. A.
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You’re in our thoughts and prayers.thank God Peppe is with you.
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Oh C. I am so sorry. Since I don’t know exactly what happened, I will be praying for a good outcome.
Let me know if you need anything. Anything at all.
Thoughts and prayers are with you, C.
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All our prayers are with you too.
Scintilla’s last blog post..Stregata.
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You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
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oh Cherrye, please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Life does happen. Been there. We all have. There’s no way to make it easy, but it does help to know that even strangers who feel somewhat like friends are thinking of you. May you feel peace in your heart.
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oh wow Cherrye! You are in our thoughts. I’m not even sure what to say…but know that all of us are thinking of you.
erin :: the olive notes’s last blog post..some more news
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Sending prayers to you and your family during this difficult time.
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You and your family are in my thoughts. A big hug to you.
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I hope and pray all is well.
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Oh Cherrye, hugs. You and your dad, and your family are in our prayers and thoughts… we will continue praying for you.
Amber’s last blog post..A New Day!
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Adding my prayers for you and your family, Cherrye. May God hold you all in his hands.
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Thinking of you too. Very best wishes, Sally
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{Hugs} I’m keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
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Oh no! I’m so sorry. It’s not just the call every expat dreads, it’s the call everyone dreads when they’re away from loved ones, particularly when they don’t get to spend enough time with them. Glad you will have P to lean on. I have said a prayer for you and your family.
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I only know you through this blog but feel like a friend. Sending good wishes and prayers to you and your family!
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Thinking of you during this difficult time.
Hugs
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Cherrye, my thoughts are with you and your family.
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I hope everything is ok. Take care xxx
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You are in my thoughts and prayers.
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You, your dad, and family are in my thoughts and prayers!
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you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. i’m glad that Peppe is with you.
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Ahh, that’s too bad Cherrye. I’m sorry to hear this. Losing a parent is hard.
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I wanted to share a poem a friend wrote for me, when my dad was killed a few years ago. Your post reminded me of those days, and my heart is with you and your family. Check out my blog if you’d like to read it – it is called My First Valentine.
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Hey Babe,
I’m not religous in anyway, but god bless your father, you and your family at this extreamly hard time.
If you need anything
Just call
Tony xxx
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I am thinking of you and your family! Keeping the faith cara mia!
un grande abbraccio, Katie
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my grandmother always told me when i was young… the greatest thing one can do to honour those whove gone before us … is to go through each day with peace and grace in our hearts. i asked her how. she replied… by taking comfort in the thought that as with hope, one must release his memories of those persons into the world for it to soar and be shared with others.
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Thank God you are not alone. My thoughts are with you.
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hope you have fun in texas…..i have missed you…happy valentines day…hugs, rebecca
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Thinking of you, Cherrye.
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Like those who have already commented, my thoughts are with you. As an expat, 15 hrs from my family, I relate. Those phone calls are never ever easy. I with you, your daddy and the rest of your loved ones the best. xo
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Hope you are well. You and your family are in my thoughts.
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Hey CC! So, you know I keep up with this blog thing that you do. I just want to tell you that I am thinking of you. Girl, you only thought that you wrote before all of this……He has inspired your writing in ways that you don’t even know yet. Believe, me, as a writer, myself, and a one time Journalism student, your inspiration has only just begun. I will see you tomorrow…..
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Poor you.. I know how awful it can be. I’ll be thinking of you.xxx
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Hey Cherrye- My thoughts and prayers are with you.
God Bless.
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Thinking of you! You and your family are in my prayers! xoxo
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i will keep your daddy in my prayers…safe travels too.
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So sorry to read this. Thinking of you and wishing for all the best.
Amanda @ A Tuscan View….’s last blog post..…take a deep breath…
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I am sorry to hear this, Cherrye. I only just discovered your beautiful blog the other day.
Jennifer
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I’m sorry Cherrye! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family right now. (((hugs)))
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