A Letter to Republicans

Today, Republicans will participate in twenty-one primaries and caucuses in pursuit of choosing their presidential nominee. The party faithful should consider where each of the four candidates stand on spending and taxes before they make their selection.

In terms of spending, the National Taxpayers Union recently issued a report on the spending proposals of all four GOP candidates. The economic proposals of all candidates but one would increase government spending. Mike Huckabee is the biggest spender with a proposal that would increase federal spending by $54 billion. Mitt Romney’s proposal would add $19.5 billion. John McCain comes in as the third Republican candidate for president with a proposal that would increase spending by $6 billion. McCain’s six billion spending increase does not include his plans to find Osama bin ladin, keep U.S. troops stationed in Iraq for the next 100 years or his plans to expand the war on the Middle East to Iran.

According to the National Taxpayers Union, the only Republican candidate for president that has not proposed spending increases is Ron Paul. As a matter of fact the Union indicated that his proposal would cut federal spending by $150 billion! In ten terms in Congress, Dr. Paul has never voted for an unbalanced budget or a tax increase noted the Union.

In terms of taxes, the Club for Growth rated each of the candidates on tax policy. The Club found that Governor Huckabee really does live up to his nickname “Tax Hike Mike”. During his tenure as governor, the average tax burden on Arkansans increased by an average of 47%. Sales taxes (Fair Tax anyone?) and motor fuel taxes led the way with increases of 37% and 16% respectively. According to the Union and the Club, Huckabee would no doubt be a huge tax and spender as president.

Governor Romney’s positions aren’t much better. As Massachusetts governor, he opposed Ballot Question 1 to eliminate the state income tax, proposed an auto excise tax on SUVs, proposed a green fields tax on the development of open space, refused to endorse the 2003 Bush tax cuts, and proposed a federal gas tax hike. Mitt represents the old and discredited Rockefeller wing of the GOP. He is a former northeastern governor with proposals that would increase federal spending and tax positions that will raise taxes to pay for his increases.

John McCain has done anything but talk straight about taxes. He was one of only two Republican senators to oppose the 2001 Bush tax cuts even though he states that he wants to make them permanent today. He also voted against repealing the Death Tax in 2002 and he was one of only three GOP senators to oppose the 2003 tax reductions. Quoting the Club for Growth, “…Senator McCain's vigorous opposition to and misguided rhetoric against the most pro-growth tax cuts in twenty years should make economic conservatives very worried about the tax policies that would emanate from a McCain presidential administration.”

The Club for Growth had nothing pro-tax to write about Congressman Paul, because he has never proposed or voted for a tax increase in nearly 20 years in Congress. Quoting the Club, “Ron Paul's record on taxes is excellent…..”

Since history repeats itself, it is important to vote for a candidate that has a history of fiscal conservatism. There is only one Republican candidate that fits that bill – Ron Paul. All the others, Huckabee, Romney, and McCain have a history of tax and spend.

National Taxpayers Union – http://www.ntu.org
The Club for Growth - http://www.clubforgrowth.org

Kenn Jacobine teaches English and History for the American International School of Lusaka, Zambia