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Mike Huckabee on Taxes and Budget
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
Q: If need be, because of the war in Iraq, because of the deficit, because of health care, because of infrastructure, would you keep raising federal taxes on the table?
Meet the Press: Meet the Candidates 2008 series Jan 28, 2007
"Also as governor I pushed through the first major broad-based tax cuts in state history. I also doubled deductions. In total I cut taxes over 100 times during my ten and a half years as governor of the state, saving the people of Arkansas millions."
Supports the FairTax proposal. Clubforgrowth gives him a mixed record on tax cuts,noting that as Arkansas governor he regularly cut income taxes but raised sales tax. Has joined Democrats in criticizing the Republican Party for tilting its tax policies "toward the people at the top end of the economic scale" (Washington Examiner 09/13/06)
"I believe federal tax policies ought to be family friendly -- starting with making the 2001 and 2003 Bush administration tax cuts permanent. As president I'll also push for elimination of the marriage penalty, something I did as governor of Arkansas. Also as governor I pushed through the first major broad-based tax cuts in state history. I also doubled deductions. In total I cut taxes over 100 times during my ten and a half years as governor of the state, saving the people of Arkansas millions."
A: I cut taxes 94 times as governor, but I realize tinkering with it doesn't work. I'd overhaul it. I would work for the fair tax, which meets the four criteria: flatter, fairer, finite, family friendly. We'd get rid of the IRS. We're get rid of all capital gains, income, corporate. And we'd have a consumption tax. The fair tax proposal, I believe, offers the best opportunity for all levels of Americans.
2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
"[As president], I'll promote pro-growth tax policies, even the idea of a true flat-tax."
I think I'd also pass legislation that would insure that the federal government had to live within its budget, a balanced budget amendment and that it could not balance its budget by simply passing costs on to states or local governments.
2007 GOP primary debate, at Reagan library, hosted by MSNBC May 3, 2007
Position statement--wants to overhaul tax system
Ended marriage penalty as Arkansas governor; website claims he will end it as president
"As president I'll also push for elimination of the marriage penalty, something I did as governor of Arkansas."
"A FairTax would eliminate the alternative minimum tax, personal income tax, corporate tax, & al the various taxes that are hidden in our system & Americans don't realize what they're paying."
Supports FairTax, which would install a national sales tax instead of income tax. Website: Some taxes I eliminated entirely: the marriage penalty, bracket creep caused by inflation, income tax on poor families, and capital gains on home sales. To encourage investment, I cut capital gains for both individuals and businesses