WASHINGTON — In a
full-page statement in this Sunday’s New York Times (February
2, 2003), bipartisan leaders of The Concord Coalition ask “Are We Really Cutting Taxes —
Or Just Raising Them On Our Kids?”
WASHINGTON — In a
full-page statement in this Sunday’s New York Times (February
2, 2003), bipartisan leaders of The Concord Coalition ask “Are We Really Cutting Taxes —
Or Just Raising Them On Our Kids?”
The statement is signed by The Concord Coalition’s Co-Chairs,
Warren B. Rudman and
Bob Kerrey, Concord’s President,
Peter G. Peterson; and and Members of The
Concord Coalition Board of Directors Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin, Lloyd Cutler,
Sam Nunn and Charles A. Bowsher.
Excerpts from the
statement:
“With the recovery still sluggish and the dual prospects of war in Iraq and
terrorism at home weighing down on business and consumer confidence, President
Bush deserves credit for proposing steps to spur the economy. Yet less than 9
percent of the 10-year $670 billion tax cut he has proposed would have an impact
this year ? a stimulus amounting to less than 6 tenths of one percent of GDP.
Most of the cut is scheduled for later years when the main effect may simply be
to enlarge the long-term deficit.
“A responsible plan would combine an effective dose of short-term fiscal
stimulus with plenty of long-term fiscal restraint. We should make any new tax
cut effective immediately, target it at households likely to spend rather than
save the money, and avoid provisions that cause growing revenue loss over time.
We urge leaders to remember that the 10-year budget outlook is rapidly
deteriorating. A projected $5.6 trillion surplus has turned into a likely
deficit of at least $1.5 trillion ? even if the Social Security surplus is
included and before any new tax cuts or spending initiatives are enacted.
Moreover, the baby boomers’ retirement looms just over the horizon. Let’s be
sure that a lighter tax burden on us today doesn’t mean an even heavier burden
on our children tomorrow.
“The nation now faces two history-bending challenges: global terrorism and
global aging. Meeting the first will require marshalling new resources far above
the extra spending already legislated. We know that meeting the second will test
the ability of society to provide a decent standard of living for the old
without imposing a crushing tax burden on the young. America should not approach
this fiscal gauntlet encumbered by deficits as far as the eye can see.”
The full text of
the statement is available in PDF format on The Concord Coalition’s website,
www.concordcoalition.org. (Requires
Adobe Acrobat Reader):
/fedbudget/old-doc/030202nytad.pdf
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