The Senate healthcare bill contains at least six tax increases on Americans making less than $250,000 per year, putting the bill in direct violation of President Obama’s “firm pledge” not to raise “any form” of taxes on these families.
As the Senate approaches a vote today on an amendment offered by Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to send the healthcare bill to the Finance Committee to strip out these tax hikes, Americans for Tax Reform reminds Senators of Obama’s repeated promise:
Sept. 12, 2008: Candidate Obama said the following:
“I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes.” (Dover, NH) [Transcript] [Video clip]
Oct. 3, 2008: Vice-Presidential candidate Joe Biden said the following:
"No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama’s plan will see one single penny of their tax raised," Biden said, "whether it’s their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax."
[Transcript] [Video Clip]
Feb. 4, 2009: Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Obama said:
“If your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increased a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime.” [Transcript]
April 15, 2009: When asked if Obama’s tax pledge applies “to the health care bill”, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs replied:
“The statement didn’t come with caveats.” (White House Briefing) [Transcript]
August 3, 2009: Gibbs reiterates Obama’s tax pledge:
“I am reiterating the President’s clear commitment in the clearest terms possible, that he’s not raising taxes on those who make less than $250,000 a year.”[ Transcript]
December 15, 2009: Obama’s promise remains for all to see at the Change.gov website:
“no family making less than $250,000 will see their taxes increase.”