Sep 04, 2008
In an interview Sept. 3, Adam explained that small businesses are the backbone of the economy, but Democratic tax proposals are a "lethal concoction."
Congressman Adam Putnam was interviewed by Judy Woodruff Wednesday (Sept. 3)night on the PBS television program "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer." Adam noted that small businesses could face dramatic increases in taxation under the Democratic economic propasals
Here are some of his remarks:
REP. ADAM PUTNAM: Well, they (the Democratic candidates) have been kind enough to admit that they are going to raise your taxes. And that is true. And it will impact not only -- we're not just talking about rock stars and Hollywood celebrities and people like that. I mean, we're talking about small businesses who pay at the individual rate.
When they talk about putting a surcharge on people making $150,000 a year or more or $200,000 -- but I've heard both figures -- you're talking about small businesses, you're talking about small family farms that are paying at the individual rate.
You're talking about small construction companies. You're talking about realtors who work out of their spare bedroom. You're talking about, frankly, the backbone of the American economy.
And so it's really a pretty lethal concoction for an economy that's already on the bubble for them to be openly talking about raising taxes. And the people who will bear the brunt of that are the people who are really the engines of job creation throughout the nation.
...
REP. ADAM PUTNAM: Well, you know, we have a track record of reforming the tax code and lowering the tax burden on all Americans, not picking winners and losers. You see, their fundamental economic policy is to pick winners and losers.
And it's a farce that they can draw some line in the sand and say, "Everyone above this line has an obligation to pay more." We believe that, if you want to fundamentally keep the economy strong, allow us to compete in a global marketplace, you want to keep the tax burden low, you want to keep the regulatory burden in check, and allow people by their own initiative to pursue their piece of the American dream.
