Giffords Votes Against AMT Relief for Working Families Votes to keep earmarks safe TUCSON, AZ – Gabby Giffords last night voted against legislation that would have repealed the alternative minimum tax and established a moratorium on earmarks for the balance of the 110th Congress, while continuing to meet our obligation to our nation’s defense and veterans. [H Con Res 312, Roll Call 140] The AMT, originally designed to impose a tax on wealthy individuals, is now the scourge of working American families. The AMT is not indexed for inflation, so each year more families are hit by the tax that the IRS in 2006 called “one of the most serious problems encountered by taxpayers” and the “poster child for tax-law complexity.” [National Taxpayer Advocate 2006 Annual Report to Congress.] “Gabby has claimed in the past to support AMT relief, yet when given a chance to vote to permanently repeal this tax on southern Arizona’s working families by 2013, she voted no,” Pima County Republican Party Chair Judi White said. “Once again, Gabby’s actions fail to live up her to rhetoric.” [October 2007 Giffords newsletter] The same legislation would have established a moratorium on earmarks for the rest of this Congress. Gabby voted no despite her claims that she would work to “eliminat[e] wasteful pork earmarks…” [“Side-by-side comparison on the issues,” Arizona Republic, August 4, 2006] “When Gabby can’t even take a modest one-year timeout on pork barrel spending, it’s clear she’s lost touch with the average southern Arizona taxpayer,” White said. “In light of a projected $410 billion deficit, now is the time to cut out wasteful spending.” [“Federal Budget Deficit Swells to $263.3B,” Associated Press, March 12, 2008] # # #
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