[655] in libertarians
there is hope yet.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Daniel Risacher)
Mon Feb 13 00:01:35 1995
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 95 23:58:27 EST
From: magnus@im.lcs.mit.edu (Daniel Risacher)
To: libertarians@MIT.EDU
Reply-To: magnus@MIT.EDU
I don't know what the official Libertarian position is
on the proposed tax cut- but I firmly believe it is much
more economically sound to fix the debt *before* cutting
the income. And it gives me great hope that apparently
the so-called ignorant masses agree. If only the congress
would *listen*!
[some headers deleted]
Subject: Majority at budget hearing opposes tax cuts
Copyright: 1995 by Reuters, R
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 95 15:20:06 PST
MANVILLE, N.J. (Reuter) - The vast majority of 1,000 people
at a House Budget Committee Saturday favored forgetting about
tax cuts until the deficit was eliminated, but committee members
disagreed and said tax cuts will remain a priority.
The committee, in Manville as part of a five-city tour to
solicit the views of people outside Washington, is looking for
ways to cut spending and carry out the Republican promise to
balance the budget by 2002.
During the three-hour hearing witnesses suggested cutting
Medicare, welfare, Social Security, the Public Broadcasting
System, the military, corporate tax breaks and selling public
land, while others rose to defend most of those programs.
But if the audience was mixed on what to cut, it was nearly
unanimous on taxes.
``How many of you would prefer to see tax cuts part of the
first effort to get to the balanced budget?'' said Chairman John
Kasich, R-Ohio, asking for a show of hands. Only about 10
percent of the audience raised its hands.
``Let the record show that the tax cut lost,'' he said.
A recent ABC-Washington Post public opinion poll showed that
voters favored deficit reduction over tax relief by a two-to-one
margin.
But that is not about to change the House Republicans'
pledge to cut $200 billion in taxes over the next five years.
``We do have a contract, and I think the number one thing we
have to do in this country is keeping our word,'' Kasich said
after the hearing, referring to the House Republicans' Contract
with America.
``And keeping our word involves doing the kind of relief
that is promised in that contract.''
Members of the audience weren't shy about offering tough
cuts, even when members of the panel hesitated.
For example, while Social Security is considered sacrosanct
by members of Congress, Carol Kasabach of Hamilton Township,
N.J. suggested affluent people such as herself should not
receive benefits.
``Wouldn't that be turning it into welfare?'' asked Rep.
Robert Walker, R-Pa., noting everyone would still pay but not
everyone would receive benefits.
Shot back Kasabach: ``If you want to use the world welfare,
well, this is for the welfare of everybody.''
