5stringJeff
11-22-2007, 10:40 AM
Mike Huckabee has been maligned for not being a fiscal conservative. Here are a couple of articles that counter that argument.
From the Evangelical Outpost (http://evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/004053.html) (lots more at the link):
let's take another look at what they've admitted he was able to accomplish:
* Pushed through a Democrat legislature the first, major broad based tax cuts in the state's history.
* Pushed through a Democrat legislature an $80 million tax cut package.
* Cut the state's capital gains tax by 25%.
* Established a Property Taxpayers' Bill of Rights
* Limited the increase in property taxes to 10% a year for individuals and 5% per taxing unit
Here are a few that they left off the list:
* Eliminated the income tax for families below the poverty line.
* Increased the standard deductions.
* Eliminated the marriage penalty.
* Eliminated bracket creep by indexing the income taxes to inflation, thereby preventing taxpayers from moving into a higher bracket when their paychecks increase due to inflations.
* Doubled the child care tax credit.
* Eliminated capital gains tax on the sale of a home.
From Redstate (http://www.redstate.com/blogs/anteater/2007/oct/30/huckabees_fiscal_record_is_fine) (also, lots more at the link):
When it comes to big issues, like tax cuts, Mike Huckabee gets it right. Huckabee has always supported the Bush tax cuts. Contrast this to a "fiscally conservative" candidate like Romney, who refused to support the Bush tax cuts as governor. Huckabee's record also contains instances where he vigorously fought for fiscal conservative principles.
...
While Mike Huckabee cut many taxes as Arkansas governor, it is true that he did raise some taxes. The taxes that Mike Huckabee raised were used to lift Arkansas out of a deplorable infrastructural condition, and Arkansas overwhelmingly approved of Mike Huckabee's actions, re-electing him over and over again, and giving him high approval ratings once he left office. The public obviously thought that the tax money was put to good use.
From the Evangelical Outpost (http://evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/004053.html) (lots more at the link):
let's take another look at what they've admitted he was able to accomplish:
* Pushed through a Democrat legislature the first, major broad based tax cuts in the state's history.
* Pushed through a Democrat legislature an $80 million tax cut package.
* Cut the state's capital gains tax by 25%.
* Established a Property Taxpayers' Bill of Rights
* Limited the increase in property taxes to 10% a year for individuals and 5% per taxing unit
Here are a few that they left off the list:
* Eliminated the income tax for families below the poverty line.
* Increased the standard deductions.
* Eliminated the marriage penalty.
* Eliminated bracket creep by indexing the income taxes to inflation, thereby preventing taxpayers from moving into a higher bracket when their paychecks increase due to inflations.
* Doubled the child care tax credit.
* Eliminated capital gains tax on the sale of a home.
From Redstate (http://www.redstate.com/blogs/anteater/2007/oct/30/huckabees_fiscal_record_is_fine) (also, lots more at the link):
When it comes to big issues, like tax cuts, Mike Huckabee gets it right. Huckabee has always supported the Bush tax cuts. Contrast this to a "fiscally conservative" candidate like Romney, who refused to support the Bush tax cuts as governor. Huckabee's record also contains instances where he vigorously fought for fiscal conservative principles.
...
While Mike Huckabee cut many taxes as Arkansas governor, it is true that he did raise some taxes. The taxes that Mike Huckabee raised were used to lift Arkansas out of a deplorable infrastructural condition, and Arkansas overwhelmingly approved of Mike Huckabee's actions, re-electing him over and over again, and giving him high approval ratings once he left office. The public obviously thought that the tax money was put to good use.