The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 29, 2007

Capito blasts tax increase

By Mannix Porterfield

Since taking control of Congress, Democrats have wasted no time trying to hit the American taxpayer with the biggest increase in the nation’s history, a $400 billion boost, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito complained Thursday.

“This budget sends a clear message to West Virginia families that they should prepare to give up more of their hard-earned money because Washington politicians know how to spend it better than they do,” Capito, R-W.Va., said.

Within five years, she said, some 587,000 residents in her home state will be paying an average of $2,428 more a year in taxes under the Democrats’ plan.

By raising the current 10 percent bracket to 15 percent, more than 5 million individuals and families not paying any taxes will be obligated to the income tax by 2011.

An average $466 more will be paid that same year by 23 million taxpayers with the elimination of the marriage penalty relief, the 2nd District representative said.

Another 31 million taxpayers would get hit with an average $859 boost in taxes under the plan that would cut the child tax credit in half, Capito said.

A family of four earning $60,000 can also expect to get broadsided under the Democrats’ budget plan. The family tax bill would jump from $3,030 to $4,893, or an increase of 61 percent.

A single parent with two children and an annual income of $30,000 isn’t spared, either, Capito said, noting the parent would see benefits decline 67 percent in 2011.

Capito said Congress is obligated to prepare a spending document that “honors our values and spends taxpayers’ money wisely.”

“Unfortunately, the budget approved today fails to hit that mark by doing nothing to reform wasteful and out of control government spending,” she said.

“Instead, it actually increases spending while placing the bill squarely on the backs of everyday citizens across the country.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

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