Terry
Van Horne: mad about tax hikes
WASHINGTON-
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) has examined Pennsylvania State Rep.
Terry Van Horne's voting record and has found that Van Horne, who
is running for Pennsylvania's Fourth Congressional District, has
a questionable record, particularly on taxes.
Some
of the details include:
1991:
Van Horne voted for a measure that increased personal income taxes
by 48%, increased corporate taxes by 24%, and applied a 6% sales
tax on household products such as cleaning products, long distance
phone service, take-out food, and cable television. All told, a
$2.9 billion tax increase.
1993:
Van Horne pushed for a 1% sales tax in Allegheny County.
1997:
Van Horne voted for a $150 million increase in the gas tax and voted
to increase vehicle registration fees from $24 to $36.
1999:
Van Horne voted to increase personal income taxes by 0.1%.
Van
Horne has defended his record on taxes saying,
" Sometimes tax increases are in order..." (6/17/2000, The Valley News Dispatch).
"Apparently
Mr. Van Horne has lost touch with reality.
At a time when the Federal government is reporting unprecedented
budget surpluses and taxpayers pay more in taxes than food, clothing
and shelter combined, Van Horne calls for tax increases," said Damon
B. Ansell, vice president for policy at ATR.
"What Mr. Van Horne should be doing is looking for ways to
return surpluses to the taxpayers who paid them.
His record on holding the line on taxes and cutting taxes
is abysmal. His continued
opposition to reducing taxes proves that he is not a friend of taxpayers,"
concluded Ansell.
"During
times of economic duress, tax and spend politicians demand tax increases
to pay for government, arguing that services, particularly for the
poor, are lacking. Now
we see a new trend-- that of calling for higher taxes during prosperous
times," said Grover G. Norquist, president of ATR.
"Will the taxpayers ever get a break?
Certainly not during times of duress, and now-if we are to
believe Mr. Van Horne-not even when the federal government is awash
in surplus money," concluded Norquist.
