Romney Campaign Press Release - Sen. McCain vs. New Hampshire Taxpayers

Against Tax Relief, Against Death Tax Repeal, Against NH Taxpayers

"I'm sorry, I have to conclude that McCain is economically illiterate. Yes, President Reagan wanted to cut spending, and he fought for it despite what some now say... But his tax cut plan was fundamental to his economic policy. McCain's views have changed since then, not Reagan's." – National Review's Mark Levin (Mark Levin, "McCain Already," National Review's The Corner, http://corner.nationalreview.com/, Posted 1/6/08)

Sen. McCain Is Still Glad He Voted Against Real Tax Relief For Working Families:

Sen. McCain Still Believes He Was Right To Vote Against Numerous Republican Tax Cuts. NBC's TIM RUSSERT: "Do you believe that voting against the Bush tax cuts was a mistake?" SEN. JOHN MCCAIN: "Of course not." (NBC's "Meet The Press," 1/6/08; www.youtube.com/watch?v=5swpJxMNU-A)

Sen. McCain Cannot Explain Why He Was Wrong To Vote Against Tax Relief. FOX NEWS' CHRIS WALLACE: "But, Senator McCain, when you look at the fact that we survived 9/11, that we survived Hurricane Katrina, terrible blows to the economy and the economy kept growing, a lot of people say that's because of the Bush tax cuts that you voted against." SEN. MCCAIN: "Well, I - and when we see what happened to spending and we have a bridge to nowhere of $233 million to an island with 50 people on it and we have former members of Congress who are now residing in federal prison because of the spending and corruption, my friend, we have to..." (Fox News, Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, Manchester, NH, 1/6/08)

Sen. McCain Voted Against Real Tax Relief For New Hampshire Families:

In 2004, The U.S. Treasury Estimated The Tax Cuts Sen. McCain Voted Against Would Greatly Benefit New Hampshire taxpayers:

- 525,000 New Hampshire taxpayers would see "lower income tax bills" because of the tax cuts McCain voted against.

- 125,000 business taxpayers in New Hampshire saw tax relief which they could invest in "new equipment, hire additional workers, and increase pay" due to the tax cuts McCain voted against.

- "More than 480,000 taxpayers in New Hampshire will benefit from the new 10-percent bracket enacted" because of the tax cuts McCain voted against.

- "Nearly 140,000 taxpayers in New Hampshire will benefit from the ... reduction in income tax rates above 15-percent" because of the tax cuts McCain voted against.

- "More than 180,000 married couples in New Hampshire will benefit from" elimination of the marriage penalty, which McCain voted against.

- "More than 125,000 married couples and single parents in New Hampshire benefit from the increase in the child tax credit" that McCain voted against.

- "125,000 taxpayers in New Hampshire will benefit from the reduced tax rates on capital gains and corporate dividends" that McCain voted against.

(U.S. Treasury Department Website, Posted 4/1/04)

New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg Supported Tax Relief For New Hampshire:

Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH): "We Understand It Is The Taxpayers' Money; It Is Not Washington's Money." (Sen. Judd Gregg, Congressional Record, p. S5771, 5/26/01)

Sen. Gregg: "This Is A Bill Which Is Directed At The Middle-Class Americans." SEN. GREGG: "This is a bill which is directed at the middle-class Americans--Americans who are working hard every day to make ends meet, some of them in a low enough tax bracket so they don't pay taxes but still they need assistance; Americans who know the dollars they are sending to the Federal Government ... are needed at home. Americans across this country need those dollars to manage their family budgets better." (Sen. Judd Gregg, Congressional Record, p. S5771, 5/26/01)

Sen. Gregg: Tax Cuts Stimulate The Economy. "Gregg also said proposed tax cuts are necessary to generate productivity that will stimulate the economy. '[The President] has recognized the fact that, to get the economy going, we are going to have to do something on the economic side, including cutting taxes so that we can create more of an incentive to create an atmosphere of productivity,' Gregg said." (Katherine Davidson, "NH Senators: Budget 'Responsible, Appropriate'," The [Manchester, NH] Union Leader, 2/5/03)

Just Remember – Sen. McCain Voted Against The 2001 And 2003 Bush Tax Cuts, And Against Repeal Of The Death Tax:

In 2001, McCain Was One Of Only Two Republicans To Vote Against The $1.35 Trillion Tax Cut. (H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #170: Adopted 58-33: R 46-2; D 12-31; I 0-0, 5/26/01, McCain Voted Nay)

In 2002, McCain Was One Of Only Two Republicans To Twice Vote Against Permanent Repeal Of The Death Tax. (S. 1731, CQ Vote #28: Adopted 56-42: R 45-2; D 11-39; I 0-1, 2/13/02, McCain Voted Nay, H.R. 8, CQ Vote #151: Motion Rejected 54-44: R 45-2; D 9-41; I 0-1, 6/12/02, McCain Voted Nay)

In 2003, McCain Was One Of Only Three Republicans To Twice Vote Against The $350 Billion Tax Cut. (H.R. 2, CQ Vote #179: Passed 51-49: R 48-3; D 3-45; I 0-1, 5/15/03, McCain Voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #196: Adopted 50-50: R 48-3; D 2-46; I 0-1, 5/23/03, McCain Voted Nay)