The rivals of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean are sharpening their criticism of his call for repeal of the tax cuts President Bush enacted. During a National Public Radio debate yesterday afternoon, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry said Dean’s proposal would put a greater financial burden on many Americans. Kerry said the so-called marriage penalty would be reinstated, and those who got a bigger, per child tax credit would lose that, too. Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman said the middle class should get to keep the Bush tax cut. Lieberman said they need that tax cut, and more. Lieberman has proposed a new middle income tax cut on top of the one Bush gave the middle class. Dean defended his contention that the Bush tax cuts should be repealed. Dean said there are too many politicians who promise everything. Dean said you cannot promise people tax cuts, college education, health care and anything they want AND balance the budget. Dean said federal budget deficits are bad for the economy, and balancing the budget will help create jobs. Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, who also has called for repealing all the Bush tax cuts, said he would use the money on federal priorities, like ensuring health care for all. Gephardt said his health care reform plan would put three-thousand dollars in the pockets of middle-income Americans, compared to the five- to seven-hundred dollars they got from the Bush tax cut.
