Allen Overreach on Sequester and Taxes Won't Cover Up Complete Lack of Substance
Richmond, VA - Former Senator George Allen either doesn't have a real plan to avoid the looming sequester cuts and balance the budget, or he doesn't want to talk about it. Unsurprisingly, that hasn't stopped him from launching wild attacks on his opponent Tim Kaine on the issue and hoping it will scare up enough votes to re-elect him to the Senate seat he lost in 2006.
Allen's wild-eyed overreach on taxes is not enough to cover up his complete lack of substance when it comes to meeting the challenges we face like the looming sequester cuts. In fact, in some cases, the ideas Allen has praised would actually increase the deficit and make matters worse. Please see several pieces of news coverage from over the weekend and this morning.
New York Times: Virginia Republican Adopts Cuts in Defense as His Issue
"In an interview, Mr. Allen said, "The responsible thing to do is to propose a way to avert these cuts." But at the debate, he spoke generally about how to head off the defense cuts while maintaining deficit reduction targets.
"His suggestions: repeal the Obama health care law, although the Congressional Budget Office said a repeal would raise the deficit; expand domestic energy production on federal lands and use royalties to reduce the deficit; and put into effect a voluntary flat tax, which households could choose instead of the existing tax code. That, too, would most likely expand the deficit as taxpayers opted for the tax that saved them money."
Washington Post: 'Gotcha' on taxes in the Virginia Senate race won't close the federal deficit.
"To avoid the draconian automatic spending cuts known as "sequestration," Mr. Kaine has urged a mix of tax increases and reasonable cost-cutting - for instance by allowing the federal government to push for lower prices on prescription drugs in Medicare. He has stressed his readiness to reach a balanced deal with Republicans. Mr. Allen, by contrast, has kowtowed to anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist by ruling out any and all tax increases. That doctrinaire refusal to compromise is precisely the approach that has led Congress into impasse and stalemate."
Roanoke Times: Editorial - Allen's mysterious tax views
"[Allen] managed to avoid saying anything substantive about "the 47 percent" during last week's candidates debate, though the moderator prodded each in turn for his reaction to Romney's view that Americans with no federal income tax liabilities are an irresponsible lot who look to the government to take care of their every need.
"Allen would neither endorse nor denounce Romney's unscripted remarks, which had been taped secretly at a private fundraiser. Asked pointedly: "Do you share that vision of America?" the Virginia Republican's nonanswer was, "I have my own point of view," and went on to talk about people's belief in the American dream."
"Allen claimed that Kaine "announced he wants to raise taxes on everyone."
"Kaine, in response to a question, said he would be "open to a proposal that would have some minimum tax level on everyone," but did not endorse the concept. If such a policy was enacted, it would not mean that everyone would pay higher income taxes. It would mean that the 47 percent of filers who had no income tax liability would pay something."
