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8/21/02

Minnesota's Own Pickpocket
ENEMY OF THE TAXPAYER RUNNING FOR 2002 SENATE

WASHINGTON - In a political race that has national interest, Minnesotan's choice for senator is not as bleak as one might think.

Candidate One: incumbent Sen. Paul Wellstone (D) -- Wellstone voted in favor of the taxpayer only 5 percent of the time during the 2001 session of Congress, according to the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) who rate members of Congress yearly according to their voting record on tax-related issues. Wellstone earned himself the title of "Enemy of the Taxpayer."

In 2001, Wellstone voted against President Bush's tax cut that immediately put more money in Americans' pockets. Wellstone voted against a proposal to cut the capital gains tax. Wellstone voted to limit the death tax, ignoring many Americans. Wellstone also voted against school vouchers, limiting school choice.

Candidate Two: former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman (R) -- Although Coleman has not yet developed a congressional voting record, he has made significant changes in the city of St. Paul as mayor since 1993. Throughout Coleman's 8-year term as mayor, the city of St. Paul realized a dramatic increase in new jobs, more police on the streets and the acquisition of a wealth of new private investments among other things, all while maintaining the same property tax rate.

"Coleman is accustomed to getting things done without increasing the tax burden," stated ATR President Grover Norquist. "That's a pro-taxpayer record."

Coleman has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, sponsored by ATR. He is one of 249 federal candidates who have pledged to American taxpayers to "oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing taxes."