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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Clash over tax cuts…

U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, left, and Democratic challenger Tom Sullivan, right, debate on Tuesday night as part of the
U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, left, and Democratic challenger Tom Sullivan, right, debate on Tuesday night as part of the "Idaho Debates," broadcast live on Idaho Public Television. (Lisa Sommer / Idaho Public Television)

In tonight's U.S. Senate debate, Sen. Mike Crapo and Democratic challenger Tom Sullivan already have clashed repeatedly over taxes. "I don't think the Republicans are in favor of tax cuts for anybody except the wealthiest people in this country," Sullivan declared. "The real tax cuts are going to the people at the top of the income chain. ... I think it's time that we have a system of fair taxation - not, you know, Mike Crapo's friends at Goldman Sachs."

Crapo responded, "That's the spin we always hear about tax relief - it's always for the rich people." He said the Bush tax cuts weren't just for the wealthy. "Everybody's income tax was reduced," Crapo said. He said he supports continuing them; Sullivan said he opposes extending them for the wealthiest. "I just don't think that old tired spin plays any more," Crapo responded. "Americans know that this is not the time to be increasing taxes on anybody, particularly on small businesses."



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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