John McCain On the Issues

• Worst thing in bad economic climate is to raise taxes. (Sep 2008)
• Double the child tax exemption from $3,500 to $7,000. (Sep 2008)
• FactCheck: $7,000-per-child tax EXEMPTION, not tax CREDIT. (Aug 2008)
• Double the personal tax exemption for every dependent. (Jul 2008)
• Terrible mistake to raise taxes during an economic downturn. (Jun 2008)
• Veto any tax increase; worst thing now is to raise taxes. (Feb 2008)
• 2001: tax package with spending restraint, against Bush cuts. (Feb 2008)
• Require a 3/5 majority vote in Congress to raise taxes. (Feb 2008)
• FactCheck: Against Bush tax cuts in 2003; for them in 2006. (Jan 2008)
• Romney raising fees a quarter-billion dollars is a tax hike. (Jan 2008)
• Opposed to the Bush tax cuts as spending got out of control. (Jan 2008)
• Supported Reagan tax cuts because matched by spending cuts. (Jan 2008)
• Reform the tax code that nobody trusts and believes in. (Dec 2007)
• We need a simpler, fairer tax code, but not FairTax. (Nov 2007)
• Tax system is fair; wealthy pay bulk of taxes. (Oct 2007)
• Won't sign no-tax pledge; focus on cutting spending. (Sep 2007)
• Make tax reform commission & vote yes-or-no on outcome. (Aug 2007)
• FactCheck: Families spend $20B on tax prep, not $140B. (Aug 2007)
• Opposed Bush tax cuts, but must extend them now. (May 2007)
• New tax cuts account for contingencies and over-spending. (May 2007)
• Alternative minimum tax is eating Americans alive. (May 2007)
• Bush tax cuts fiscally reckless & favored rich;but keep them. (Apr 2007)
• Consistent on focusing tax cuts more toward middle class. (May 2002)
• Tax plan: $238B over 5 years; $500B over 10 years. (Feb 2000)
• Double child tax credit; add family incentives. (Feb 2000)
• “Balanced approach”, and starts a flat tax system. (Feb 2000)
• Reagan Republican: simplify taxes; cut waste. (Feb 2000)
• Big money interests fear closing loopholes. (Jan 2000)
• Remove charitable deduction; it only benefits rich. (Jan 2000)
• Replace employer-provided benefits with a tax cut. (Jan 2000)
• Middle-class tax cut: expand 15% tax bracket. (Jan 2000)
• Don’t promise tax cuts from future surpluses we may not have. (Jan 2000)
• 1st step to simplify taxes: close special interest loopholes. (Dec 1999)
• Supports flat tax; stop complexity by special interests. (Oct 1999)
• Keep lump-sum earned income tax credit. (Oct 1999)
• Cut marriage tax, inheritance tax, & earnings test. (Sep 1999)
• Taxes should be flatter, lower, and simpler. (Apr 1999)

Voting Record

• GovWatch: 2001: against tax cut that went to rich. (Feb 2008)
• Voting against Bush cuts then for them: not a mistake. (Jan 2008)
• Voted against Bush tax cuts for not reining in spending. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset. (Mar 2008)
• Voted YES on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M. (Feb 2008)
• Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (Aug 2006)
• Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
• Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
• Voted YES on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"). (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
• Rated 72% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
• Rated 50% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation. (Dec 2006)
• Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts. (Sep 1998)

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