Congressional Candidate John Stephen Calls Rep. Shea-Porter’s Vote For Budget With Massive Tax Increase “Out Of Touch”

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For Immediate Release                                             Greg Moore
March 13, 2008                                         (603) 568-8159 (cell)

Congressional Candidate John Stephen Calls Rep. Shea-Porter’s Vote For Budget With Massive Tax Increase “Out Of Touch”
Budget Plan Would Raise Taxes Over $3,000 Annually Per Household To Fund More Spending

MANCHESTER, NH- 1st District Congressional candidate John Stephen today criticized Rep. Carol Shea-Porter’s vote for a federal budget that increases federal taxes by $3.911 trillion over 10 years, or $3,135 per household annually, according to research by the Heritage Foundation (http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/wm1842.cfm).  This amounts to a tax increase on American workers and businesses of 12%.  These tax increases would result in the removal of tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 and would eliminate the expanded child tax credit and marriage penalty relief as well as allowing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) to hit 20 million additional taxpayers.

“At a time when our economy is having real problems, the absolute last thing we need is a tax increase of over $3,000 on the working families of America,” said Stephen.  “Rep. Carol Shea-Porter is out of touch with the people of New Hampshire if she thinks that they want a huge tax hike.  A 12% jump in taxes will stop individuals and businesses in their tracks from looking to create good, new jobs.  We have to do a lot better if we are going to turn this economy around and send the message that Congress is working for the people and not against them.”

The budget proposal, which passed the House with a vote on party lines, increases discretionary spending by $74 billion for next year, or 8%- nearly twice the rate of inflation.  The budget blueprint offers no significant offsets for this new spending.  The plan also does not include any provisions to halt earmarks, pork-barrel projects inserted into the budget by members of Congress, and projects a deficit for the next fiscal year of $340 billion.

“This budget is more of the same from Congress, just like we have seen over the past six years,” added Stephen.  “This is another $340 billion in debt on our children and grandchildren that must be paid back.  The credit card in maxed out, but Rep. Shea-Porter wants to continue to drive us further into debt, increase inflation and create new federal programs with a massive increase in discretionary spending.  These are Washington values at their worst.  We need New Hampshire values of limited taxes and low spending.  It’s time for change.”

John Stephen is the former Commissioner of Health and Human Services.  Prior to that position, he served as the Assistant Commissioner of Safety, where he also served as the state’s first Homeland Security Coordinator.  Stephen also served as a prosecutor for 10 years, in Hillsborough County and as an Assistant Attorney General.  He is a Manchester resident.