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The Charge

John Gard’s television ad claims Steve Kagen voted to raise taxes on families by $1,800.
[John Gard TV ad 9/26/2008,  www.gardforcongress.com]

The Facts:

Congressman Kagen has never voted to raise taxes on families.

In fact Congressman Kagen has helped save middle class families from being pushed into higher tax brackets.

Congress has not passed any tax increases on families while Steve Kagen has been a member.
[Congressional Budget Office]

Background

Congressman Kagen voted to save middle-class families from being pushed into higher tax brackets.
[H.R. 4351 Roll Call 1153 12/12/07]

In 2007 and 2008, President Bush submitted his proposed budgets to Congress.  These budgets included extending Bush’s temporary tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans beyond 2010, when they are set to expire.  John Gard supports making permanent these fiscally irresponsible tax breaks for the wealthy.

In response to the President’s budget, the Congress passed budget resolutions that outlined Congress’ ideas for what federal spending should look like over the next 5 years.  The budget resolutions did not include the expansion of Bush’s fiscally-irresponsible tax breaks for the wealthy.  Because of that, Republicans try to argue that these are really tax increases.

These budget resolutions continue all of the tax cuts that help middle class families, including the child tax credit and relief from the marriage penalty.  Also, Congressman Kagen has consistently called for the permanent repeal of the federal estate tax.