where they stand
Taxes | |||||||
| President George Bush, Republican | Sen. John Kerry, Democrat | Don Barbieri, Democrat, for U.S. House, 5th District | Cathy McMorris, Republican, for U.S. House, 5th District | Sen. Patty Murray, Democrat for Senate | Rep. George Nethercutt, Republican for Senate | Christine Gregoire, Democrat for governor | Dino Rossi, Republican for governor |
| Cites record of cutting taxes and says cuts like the new 10 percent tax bracket for low-income Americans, reduced marriage penalty, the doubling of the child tax credit and the phase-out of the inheritance tax should be made permanent. Also wants to simplify the tax code and encourage saving and investment. | Make middle-class tax cuts permanent, adding tax cuts and tax credits for health care, child care and education. Cancel tax cuts over last three years for families making more than $200,000. Eliminate tax breaks for companies creating jobs or investing overseas, cut corporate tax rate by 5 percent for other companies. | There is no question – we must provide relief for working families. I support protecting tax cuts for middle-income families, permanent elimination of the marriage penalty, and permanent relief from the Estate Tax for small businesses and family farms. | My opponent and I have many differences when it comes to taxes. I support permanent elimination of the death tax, eliminating the marriage penalty, and making permanent President Bush’s tax cuts. I support making state sales taxes deductible from our federal taxes. I do not support a state income tax. | Congress should close tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas and provide incentives for companies to create jobs at home. Has backed measures to allow residents of states without an income tax to deduct their sales tax when they file federal tax returns. | We must make the tax relief permanent, so small businesses and families can better plan for the future. Tax increases now would stop growth and kill jobs. Has fought for efforts to allow residents of states without an income tax to deduct their sales tax when they file federal tax returns. | With our state coming out of a recession, we should be talking about creating jobs, not raising taxes. I have a plan to reform the B&O tax and improve Washington’s economy. We’ll take a long-overdue look at tax loopholes. There are more than 430 tax exemptions now, totaling more than $45 billion per biennium. | Would oppose any increase in general taxes. Wants to improve Washington’s overall economy and business climate. Our state isn’t competitive with other states as a place to do business. We’ve got to change the attitude of state government and make this a good place to create and maintain good jobs. |