Darcy Burner released her tax plan, and not just the one where she says she wants to "raise a few."
The Seattle Times coverage of the release says: "Her opponent's campaign called the plan a 'gimmick'"... That doesn't tell the full tale. Amidst the dueling campaign memos, the Reichert campaign made this catch for the Fourth Estate:
*NOTE TO REPORTERS: In the first release of her *economic plan* Darcy Burner overlooked one rather important detail: current tax law prohibits taxpayers from both claiming the standard deduction while also itemizing the sales tax deduction (For that matter, under current law, taxpayers claiming the standard deduction cannot also claim any itemized deductions). This discrepancy was pointed out by a reporter during this morning's conference call. Her response? She would change that law too. If willing to change her plan this way on the fly, what will she change next?
Yes, that's right. Burner's original plan counted the saving from both doubling the standard deduction and making the sales tax deduction permanent. When pointed out you can't claim the sales tax deduction if not itemizing deductions, Burner's campaign less than helpfully pointed out: oh, we'll change that portion of the IRS code too.
A simple "oops" might have sufficed better. She's running for Congress, not the monarchy.
This all gets to one of the most annoying trends in Congressional candidates on both sides of the aisle: proclamations of grand plans that are guaranteed to whither even if they are elected. Funny thing, being a rookie among 435 members of Congress means the odds of you blowing up something as dreadfully complicated and with as much inertia as the US tax code are not terribly high.
Which reminds me, Burner is already on record saying she would like to see the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 expire - a number of which provide immense direct and indirect benefits to the middle the class. After the fact she would like to revise and extend her remarks. Ok.
Here's the bottom line: whatever plans she would like to announce supposedly protecting the middle class - and that's a whole separate argument - Darcy Burner will be a vote for a Democratic tax plan in Congress.
After all, David Goldstein says "she's one of us." Darcy Burner (D-Netroots): nothing could go wrong there, right?
Exit question: if I was on an editorial board issuing an endorsement in this race, I would be awfully interested in asking Darcy Burner to state a position on pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea. The near universal opinion of both the local business and the local editorial board community is a resounding "yes" on those deals.
Meanwhile, Burner continues to dodge, duck, dip, dive...and dodge on answering those questions, even with the release of her economic plan talking about her position on trade.
Cross-posted at the Examiner.
Posted by Eric Earling at September 12, 2008 07:35 AM | Email ThisSquadoosh.
Posted by: Palouse on September 12, 2008 07:54 AMhttp://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=382e9c2c-7fd4-4dab-86eb-eb2ffa14fd9e
Posted by: Pete on September 12, 2008 08:51 AM
As I've said all along, this race is a snoozer. Burner still has no resume, no public service and still parrots the nutroots left.
Reichert in '08 in WA-08
Posted by: diamondshards on September 12, 2008 09:57 AMOregon McCain +1
Posted by: jbw on September 12, 2008 10:23 AMPlease! I'd so much rather have ineffective idiot Darcy rather than highly-senior Baghdad Jim!
Posted by: Bryan Lovely on September 12, 2008 10:51 AMNO-NO-& No!
I came from a state that has both and guess what, their taxes are running out of control and the state is Billions BROKE!
Yep it's Calif.
Buy the way, you can't de-duct it all.
There are lies, and Damn Lies, and this is a bucket of Damn Lies.
Darcy and the Democrats want to add a 7% SSI tax increase on all earnings over the current limit, which is well below the $250,000 Lie.
They want to raise the Capital Gains tax which will hit americans of all income levels. Another Lie
They want to let the Bush Tax cuts expire which will be a massive tax increase on most americans each year - Lie Lie Lie
Plus Rangals additional 400 Billion tax increase and Obama wanting to tax the corporations even more which will trickle down to higher prices for everything you buy.
Their Energy policy is already biting every American
No Thanks! Burner and her gang of thieves won't get a chance.
Posted by: GS on September 12, 2008 12:57 PMThe situation begs the question, just how insular must a person be to believe that being anti-Bush sufficiently qualifies her to be in congress, despite the fact that if elected she would take office as Bush leaves office?
I don't expect Burner to win, but what really bothers me is the fact that such a hopelessly improbable candidate should attract significant votes, and it raises the specter of a qualified candidate the next time around. Here in the ninth, it reminds me of Tate barely winning his first election, then being trounced by Smith the next time around, and conservatives have been waiting ever since to be able to vote for a sound candidate in opposition to Smith.
It's like Bush Derangement symdrome but much worse.
Posted by: jbw on September 12, 2008 02:52 PMShe's kinda like Obama, but at least Obama is a great orator. She's just got nothing.
Oh yah, and at least Obama finished law school.
Posted by: Cliff on September 12, 2008 03:47 PMno worries--I'm sure her "tax plan" roots & research/expertise are sprinkled somewhere among her high school graduation autograph book notes and friends' signatures, dreams and feelings;
sorry, young lady, not a way to run a real business or real country--let alone play with the REAL jacks & balls in Congress & Beltway; maybe better to stick to your "community organizing" and condo assoc meetings to affect REAL hope & change;
am I harsh? well, all I remember is the recent "Bush this, Bush that" ads of her last election pitch; nothing meaty; nothing original; all scripted like a marionette; we'll listen if you have something of substance and tested by the real world business experience; and--how many lemonade stands did she run?
Posted by: jimmie-howya-doin on September 12, 2008 08:22 PM
Reichert is getting better - his decisions make more sense and he is closer to McCain politically than he was to Bush.
Posted by: KS on September 12, 2008 10:47 PM"Darcy and the Democrats want to add a 7% SSI tax increase on all earnings over the current limit, which is well below the $250,000" - This is a complete LIE. Currently, SSI tax is paid on all earnings above $102k. The Democrats will KEEP this $102k limit, and not impose SSI tax between $102k-$250k. Only earnings after $250k would be taxed, and at a far lower rate than 7%.
They want to raise the Capital Gains tax which will hit americans of all income levels. Another Lie - No, he's actually just going to roll back the rate to Clinton levels of 20%. And close the loopholes that allowed hedge fund managers to claim $29 BILLION in income as "capital gains".
They want to let the Bush Tax cuts expire which will be a massive tax increase on most americans each year - Complete lie. Obama will CUT taxes on 95% of Americans even from current levels. For those making under $180k, he'll cut taxes even more than McCain would. So, he'll be far better for most Americans.
Plus Rangals additional 400 Billion tax increase and Obama wanting to tax the corporations even more which will trickle down to higher prices for everything you buy. - More lies. Obama will actually DECREASE the corporate tax rate, but INCREASE the amount of money collected by closing loopholes that allow hugely profitable companies like General Electric to pay NO CORPORATE TAXES.
So, yes, you could call this a net tax "increase" on corporations, but you'd be lying. Small business, and companies that have not been hiding profits will actually get a corporate tax DECREASE.