HobbsOnline

Steaming hot commentary on journalism, Tennessee, politics, economics, the war and more...

Name:
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, United States

9/19/2002

Of Taxes & Spending
The following essay comes from Chuck Muth, executive director, American Conservative Union.

With Hillary Clinton taking point and Tommy Daschle riding shotgun, Democrats are increasingly calling for a "freeze" on President Bush's tax cuts in order to stanch a growing budget deficit and "help" the economy to recover. Allow me to agree. (Someone pick mom up, I think she fainted). However: Any "freeze" on the tax cuts MUST also come with a freeze on government spending. Exactly where it is today. No increases, period. Not even for war. Not even for cost of living adjustments. A freeze is a freeze. If you need more money to fight terrorism, take it out of the National Endowment for the Arts. Or make Sen. Byrd of West Virginia give back one of his highways. And until the tax cuts are later "unfrozen," no consideration of any or additional or new spending. None. Nada. Zip. Zero. Instead of being defensive over the Democrat calls for a tax freeze, let's see Republicans screw up enough nerve to call their bluff. Yeah, right. Don't hold your breath.

If you don't subscribe to Muth's daily "News & Views" email newsletter, you should. Visit his site at ChuckMuth.com.