U.S. Senate Republican Policy Committee - Larry E. Craig, Chairman - Jade West, Staff Director
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July 26, 1999

GOP Tax Cut = Clinton's 1993 $241-Billion Hike

A Republican Tax Cut Bill vs. "Democrat Tax" Bill

Only in Bill Clinton's Washington would it be necessary to defend returning a $1 trillion income tax overpayment to income taxpayers. However, for another year and half Bill Clinton is still president and as he has for the last six and a half years, he once again opposes cutting taxes. You could call him "Democrat Tax" Bill.

Put together, the GOP's currently proposed tax cut ($156 billion over five years) and the 1997 Republican tax cut ($85 billion over five years) equal Clinton's $241 billion (over five years) 1993 tax hike.

  • Clinton's 1993 tax hike not only broke America's tax hiking record but also Bill Clinton's campaign promise to cut middle class taxes in his 1992 campaign.

  • Sheepish at negative public reaction from his breaking of both tax hike records and his promises, Clinton admitted in 1995: "People in this room are still mad at me at that budget because you think I raised your taxes too much. Well, it might surprise you to know I think I raised them too much, too."

  • Senate Republicans want to finish the job. We agree with the President -- he did "raise your taxes too much" in 1993 -- that's why we intend simply to offset that amount now.

  • To people outside of Bill Clinton's Washington, cutting taxes by the same amount you raised them six years ago -- when you admitted raising them "too much" then and are expecting a $1 trillion surplus not including any Social Security now -- is fair.

Compare the tax records:

  • Bill Clinton promised to cut taxes while campaigning in 1992.

  • In 1993, Bill Clinton raised taxes by a record $241 billion over five years.

  • In 1994, Clinton again tried raising taxes with his nationalized health care plan.

  • In 1995, Bill Clinton admits he raised taxes "too much."

  • In 1996, Bill Clinton vetoed tax cuts.

  • In 1997, Clinton finally accepted tax cuts at Republican insistence.

  • In 1998, Clinton again refused to cut taxes in spite of a growing surplus.

  • And now in 1999, Bill Clinton not only again opposes tax cuts, but seeks $100 billion more in taxes over the next ten years (according to CBO), despite a $1 trillion 10-year, non-Social Security surplus.

In contrast, Republicans:

  • Cut taxes by $85 billion in 1997,

  • And now seek to cut taxes by another $155.5 billion.

  • Together the Republican tax cuts just match Clinton's record 1993 tax hike.

How, if Clinton's $241 billion 1993 tax hike was "too much" by his own admission, can a tax cut which is --

  • The same amount ($241 billion) --

  • Spread out in two bills beginning three years ago --

  • With a $1 trillion non-Social Security surplus over the next ten years --

  • With every cent of Social Security's $1.9 trillion surplus set aside in every year --

  • And with the public debt reduced over $200 billion more than Clinton's plan --

-- be "too much" now?

The issue is simple: A debate over a Republican tax cut bill versus "Democrat Tax" Bill

  • Republicans want to responsibly cut taxes.

  • President Clinton inveterately wants to raise taxes (another $100 billion over the next ten years according to CBO) and spend money ($1.1 trillion more than the Republican budget would).

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