I was perusing the website of Americans for Tax Reform — Grover Norquist’s outfit — and ran across this helpful list of quotes from the President:
“We will not raise payroll taxes to solve this problem.” -President Bush, Dec. 9, 2004
“I said we’re not going to run up the payroll taxes. I think running up payroll taxes will slow down economic growth. The economy is beginning to kick in, it’s beginning to make sense. I think we can solve the problem without increasing payroll taxes.” -President Bush, Jan. 11, 2005
“[W]e must not increase payroll taxes on American workers because raising taxes will slow economic growth.” -President Bush, Jan. 15, 2005
“It’s very important for people to put all options on the table with the exception of affecting those who have already retired, like I have said, and without raising the payroll tax. Other than that, I’m open-minded.” -President Bush, Jan. 17, 2005
“We must not jeopardize our economic strength by raising payroll taxes.” -President Bush, Feb. 2, 2005
Anyway, there were a few more like this (last one dated Feb. 8th), but you get the idea. But it looks like Grover must have forgotten to include this more recent clip:
“President Bush says he has not ruled out raising [payroll] taxes on those who earn more than $90,000 a year to help bolster Social Security’s finances… Asked directly, Bush said that he would not rule out raising that cap.” — CNN, 2/16/05
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