Americans for Tax Reform

POLICY BRIEF FROM AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM

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JOHN MCCAIN TAX VOTES 2001-2006 & TAXPAYER RATINGS

ATR Ratings

McCain has an average rating of 82.7 percent in the Americans for Tax Reform scorecard since 1994.
While at first blush this may appear to be somewhat positive, the ratings vary based on three different distinct patterns of McCain’s voting.
Since 1998 McCain has an average rating of 75 percent.
From 1998-2002 McCain’s average rating was just 66 percent.
From 1994 through 1997, McCain scored a perfect 100 in each year representing a Reagan-type approach to taxpayer issues.
But as his ambitions for the President increased his ratings significantly dropped.
In 1998 and 1999 McCain scored a 75 percent, followed by 65 percent in 2000.
In 2001 McCain scored just 55 percent and in 2002 he scored 60 percent.
His numbers have steadily increased. In 2003 he scored an 85 percent but the votes he was scored against were related the 2003 tax cut – arguably the most important taxpayer vote since the 1993 Clinton tax increase.
Out of favor with the Republican base, McCain has slowly tried to reinvent himself as a taxpayer friendly Senator and has scored a 90 percent in the past two years.

Vote Summary

McCain voted no on 6 tax cuts including the two big votes - final passage of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
McCain voted yes on 3 tax cuts including 2 which received near unanimous support in the Senate and were relatively non controversial.
McCain was not present for an additional 3 tax votes, including 2 on the very important American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.
McCain does not support permanent repeal of the estate tax, a major goal of the taxpayer movement.
McCain has told reporters "off the record" that he would raise taxes if elected President

McCain No Vote on Tax Cuts

Economic and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, Conference Report - May 26, 2001

McCain Voted No

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00170

Final passage of the 2001 tax cut which reduced marginal tax rates, ended the marriage penalty, expanded the child credit, increased IRA and 401(k) contributions and phased out the estate tax.

Death Tax Repeal Sense of the Senate – February 13, 2002

McCain Voted No

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00028

Non binding Sense of the Senate the Estate tax should be eliminated.

Permanent Repeal of the Death Tax - June 12, 2002

McCain Voted No

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00151

2002 vote to permanently repeal the death tax which failed.

Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 - May 15, 2003

McCain Voted No

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00179

2003 tax cut which accelerated the phase in provisions of the 2001 tax including income tax rate reductions, marriage penalty, and child credit. Legislation also reduced the double tax on dividends and capital gains tax to 15 percent, and increase business depreciation to 50 percent.

Jobs and Growth Conference Report - May 23, 2003

McCain Voted No, Cheney Had to Break the Tie

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00196

Final passage for 2003 tax cut which accelerated the phase in provisions of the 2001 tax including income tax rate reductions, marriage penalty, and child credit. Legislation also reduced the double tax on dividends and capital gains tax to 15 percent, and increase business depreciation to 50 percent.

2004 American Jobs Creation Act – Motion to Invoke Cloture on Conference Report – October 10, 2004

McCain Voted No

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00210

Final passage of conference report for international tax legislation which needed passage to bring the US in compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. Since the US was out of compliance the European Union (EU) was able to slap tariffs on American products until the illegal subsidy was removed, which this legislation did. In addition, the legislation cut the corporate tax rate for domestic manufacturers and allowed companies to repatriate their foreign profits back into America at a lower tax rate.

McCain Not Present

2002 Economic Stimulus Vote - February 6, 2002

McCain Not Present for Vote

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00014

2002 stimulus package was designed to get the US economy moving again following the horrific attacks of September 11^th. McCain was not present to vote either the Grassley or Daschle versions of the legislation, both of which failed to garner the necessary votes.

2004 American Jobs Creation Act – May 11, 2004

McCain Not Present for Vote

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00091

2004 American Jobs Creation Act Conference Report – October 11, 2004

McCain Not Present for Vote

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00211

Interestingly, McCain was absent for two of the three votes on the 2004 international legislation (votes which took place 5 months apart from each other). Since the US was out of compliance the European Union (EU) was able to slap tariffs on American products until the illegal subsidy was removed, which this legislation did. In addition, the legislation cut the corporate tax rate for domestic manufacturers and allowed companies to repatriate their foreign profits back into America at a lower tax rate.

McCain Voting Yes on Tax Cuts

Economic and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act – May 23, 2001

McCain Voted Yes

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00165

McCain voted yes on the first vote of President Bush’s 2001 tax cut (and then voted no on final passage of the conference report). The 2001 tax cut which reduced marginal tax rates, ended the marriage penalty, expanded the child credit, increased IRA and 401(k) contributions and phased out the estate tax.

2002 Economic Stimulus Conference Report – March 8, 2002

McCain Voted Yes

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00044

McCain voted yes on the final conference report of the 2002 stimulus package. The package included one tax cut Republicans were seeking (30 percent bonus depreciation) and one spending program Democrats were seeking (extension of unemployment benefits). Passed 85-9.

2004 Working Families Tax Act Conference Report – September 23, 2004

McCain Voted Yes

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=2&vote=00188

McCain voted yes on the 2004 tax cut which extended the family provisions of the 2003 tax cut such as an extension of the child credit. Passed overwhelmingly in the Senate 92-3.