A consistent vote against taxpayers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A look back at the voting record of Health and Human Services Secretary-designate and former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD) shows a lifetime average score of just 7% on Americans for Tax Reform’s annual Congressional Scorecard. The Scorecard is comprised of the top votes of concern to taxpayers in a given legislative year.

Daschle was a consistent vote against tax cuts as well as a consistent vote for tax hikes, including the following “highlights”:

• In 2004, Daschle voted against keeping the Internet free of all sales taxes.

• In 2003, Daschle voted against reducing the capital gains and dividend rates to 15%.

• In 2003, Daschle voted against permanently killing the Death Tax.

• In 2002, Daschle voted against permanently killing the Death Tax.

• In 2001, Daschle voted against cutting income tax rates for all taxpayers, ending the marriage penalty, doubling the child tax credit, and killing the Death Tax.

• In 2000, Daschle voted against ending the marriage penalty, killing the Death Tax, and a gas tax cut for consumers.

• In 1999 Daschle voted against expanding Medical Savings Accounts despite endorsing the concept less than a decade earlier.

• In 1999 Daschle voted against an across-the-board 10% income tax cut, a capital gains tax cut, and killing the Death Tax.

• In 1998, Daschle voted against ending the marriage penalty and against tax-free education savings accounts for children.

• In 1997, Daschle voted against the creation of the Roth IRA.

• In 1995, Daschle voted against a constitutional amendment that would have required a supermajority to raise taxes.

• In 1993, Daschle voted for the Clinton income tax increase.

“Tom Daschle, like Leona Helmsley, believes only ‘the little people’ should pay taxes,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “He thinks he’s too important for that, and he gives the word ‘hypocrisy’ a bad odor.”

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