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Taxes
Federal income taxes range from 15 percent to 39.6 percent depending on income, with most Americans taxed at 28 percent or less. The per-person cost of all federal taxes combined is estimated at $7,026, up from $4,646 in 1980. Here is how the candidates would change the current tax system:
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George W. Bush (Republican)
His $1.3 trillion, 10-year package would gradually reduce all income tax rates by 2006. Income is now taxed at five levels: 15 percent, 28 percent, 31 percent, 36 percent and 39.6 percent. Bush would simplify and reduce these to 10 percent, 15 percent, 25 percent and 33 percent. He has also proposed doubling the $500 per-child tax credit and raising the income cap from $110,000 for a married couple filing jointly to $200,000. Bush's plan would reduce the marriage penalty paid by many two-income couples by allowing a deduction of 10 percent of the lower-earning spouse's salary, up to $30,000. He would gradually repeal the estate tax over eight years, and make permanent the research and development tax credit that Congress recently extended for five years. He would raise from $500 to $5,000 the amount that can be deposited in a tax-free education savings account and expand the accounts to include kindergarten through 12th grade.
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Al Gore
(Democrat)
His $500 billion, 10-year package would raise standard deduction for married couples to ease the marriage penalty for those who do not itemize deductions. It would provide a $3,000 tax credit to help with the costs of long-term health care for a disabled or elderly relative and create new tax-free retirement savings accounts that would be matched by the government. Gore's plan also allows a tax deduction or a 28 percent tax credit on up to $10,000 in tuition for college or other postsecondary education. It permits a 25 percent per-employee tax credit for small businesses that join purchasing pools to provide health insurance and creates a tax credit for up to 50 percent of after-school program expenses for children age 16 and under. It also contains tax breaks for school construction, worker training, low-income housing, land conservation, energy efficiency and stay-at-home parents.
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Pat Buchanan (Reform Party)
As Republican candidate, favored a 16 percent flat income tax on earnings over $35,000 and deep cuts in inheritance and small-business taxes, but retains donations for charitable donations and mortgage interest. Tax cuts would be paid for in part with higher tariffs.
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Campaign coverage of tax issues
State has promises to keep on Question 4, By Stephen E. Collins and Leo Sarkissian, 11/26/2000 -OPINION
Finneran: Legislators will live with tax cut, By Brian MacQuarrie, Globe Staff, 11/8/2000
Cellucci gets a win, may stay to enjoy it, By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Columnist, 11/8/2000 -OPINION
Voters approve Cellucci's tax cut, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 11/8/2000
Promises, promises, Globe editorial, 11/6/2000 -OPINION
Corporate tax inequity, Globe editorial, 11/5/2000 -OPINION
Businesses lukewarm on tax-cut initiatives, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 11/2/2000
Bush, Gore tax philosophies differ widely, By Raja Mishra, Globe Staff, 11/2/2000
Diverse group backs toll credit, poll shows, By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff, 11/1/2000
Official says he violated election law, By Daniel Barbarisi, Globe Correspondent, 10/30/2000
In Mass. voter poll, tax cut has the edge, By Tina Cassidy and Frank Phillips, Globe Staff, 10/30/2000
Cellucci, Birmingham square off on tax-cut question, By Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press, 10/30/2000
Force our leaders to keep their tax promises, vote yes on 4, By Barbara Anderson, 10/29/2000 -OPINION
Question 6: Initiative would give tax rebate to motorists, By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff, 10/29/2000
Question 4: Cellucci administration says tax cut would boost economy, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 10/29/2000
Gore targets Bush on schools, taxes, By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 10/26/2000
Foes unite against pike toll, auto excise tax rebates, By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff, 10/26/2000
Gore's 'kitchen table' chat takes aim at Bush tax plan, By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 10/24/2000
The better tax cut, Globe editorial, 10/23/2000 -OPINION
Turnpike foes hit the road, By Sean Patrick Lyons, Globe Staff, 10/22/2000
Time to count the reasons Question 4 likely to pass, By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff, 10/21/2000 -OPINION
Risky tax cut, Globe editorial, 10/19/2000 -OPINION
Cellucci aides call on foes to help battle Pike tax credit, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 10/19/2000
Rivals in tax-cut debate turn on TV, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 10/17/2000
Voters warming up to tax-cut question, By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 10/14/2000
Bush plans new defense of tax cut, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 10/11/2000
Tax tale turns fuzzy, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 10/8/2000
On Bush tax plan and Social Security, Gore's rhetoric seen loose with the facts, By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 10/3/2000
Why I might vote for state tax rollback, By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist, 9/19/2000 -OPINION
Tax plan woos middle-class votes, By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 9/19/2000
Tax-cut question real debate issue, By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Columnist, 9/6/2000 -OPINION
In Louisiana, Bush takes tax cut push to middle class families, By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff, 8/25/2000
Bush sees need to sharpen message, By Glen Johnson and Susan Milligan, Globe Staff, 8/23/2000
Bush, Gore offer major tax cuts with huge differences, By Curt Anderson, Associated Press, 8/23/2000
Tax bills let Congress contrast Gore, Bush, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 7/15/2000
Gore doubles tax cut proposal, By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 6/16/2000
Politics and taxes, By Carolyn Shaw Bell, 4/11/2000 -OPINION
GOP differs with Bush on taxes, By Alan Fram, Associated Press, 3/16/2000
Congressional GOP holds its own views on tax cuts, By Alan Fram, Associated Press, 2/29/2000
Bush, McCain spar over tactics, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, and Curtis Wilkie, Globe Correspondent, 2/16/2000
Tax cut, military issues resound weakly for Bush, By Charles A. Radin, Globe Staff, 2/15/2000
For politicians tax-cut pandering has lost its magic, By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist, 2/8/2000 -OPINION
McCain says Bush ignores loophole issue, By Curtis Wilkie, Globe Correspondent, 1/30/2000
Bush says Clinton State of Union speech shows need for big tax cut, By Walter R. Mears, Associated Press, 1/28/2000
Bush, McCain spar on taxes, education, abortion, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, and Curtis Wilkie, Globe Correspondent, 1/27/2000
Tax issue boosts Forbes coming into N.H.; Clinton a help for Gore, By Mike Mokrzycki, Associated Press, 1/25/2000
New Hampshire voters have integrity, not issues, on their minds, By Holly Ramer, Associated Press, 1/22/2000
Fight intensifies for votes of women, By Mary Leonard, Globe Staff, 1/22/2000
Bush raps McCain's plan to alter tax deductions for charitable giving, By Jill Zuckman, Globe Staff, 1/22/2000
Taxes at heart of a win in N.H., By David M. Shribman, Globe Staff, 1/21/2000
Tax cuts for all wheee, By David Nyhan. Globe Columnist, 1/21/2000 -OPINION
Bush and his troops attack McCain's tax plan on many fronts, By Jill Zuckman, Globe Staff, 1/20/2000
Issue of Internet tax revived, By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 1/19/2000
McCain signs no-tax-on-Internet pledge, By Glen Johnson, Associated Press, 1/18/2000
Can McCain pull off a political three-fer?, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 1/17/2000 -OPINION
Bush shifts, disavowing S.C. senator's racial remark, By Anne E. Kornblut and Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff, 1/16/2000
Bush, McCain and Forbes trade charges over competing tax-cut plans, By Glen Johnson, Associated Press, 1/15/2000
GOP candidates feeding increased appetite for tax cuts, By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 1/12/2000
Bush touts tax plan as superior to McCain's, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 1/12/2000
McCain tax plan proposes family savings accounts, loophole closure, By Curt Anderson, Associated Press, 1/11/2000
McCain will propose sweetened tax plan, By Jill Zuckman, Globe Staff, 1/10/2000
McCain tax plan proposes family savings accounts, loophole closure, By Curt Anderson, Associated Press, 1/10/2000
Forbes ad attacks Bush, says he broke tax pledge, By Charles A. Radin and Jill Zuckman, Globe Staff, 1/8/2000
Bush stands by tax pledge, By Michael Holmes, Associated Press, 1/8/2000
Here we go again: A Bush pledges 'no new taxes', By Walter Mears, Associated Press, 1/7/2000
Bradley targets tax loopholes, vows $124 billion savings, By Michael Crowley, Globe Staff, 1/5/2000
Bradley wants to end $125 billion in corporate tax breaks, Associated Press, 1/4/2000
Hatch outlines plans for short-, long-term tax changes, Associated Press, 12/17/1999
The big buzz: Taxes, By Laura A. Kiernan, Globe Correspondent, 12/14/1999 -OPINION
Gore, Bradley camps swap accusations on taxes, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 12/7/1999
Bush's tax cut clunker, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 12/6/1999 -OPINION
Bush tax plan would help very rich, working poor, By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 12/1/1999
Bush to detail plans for lowering income tax rates, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 12/1/1999
Bush joins GOP tax-cutting mainstream, By Curt Anderson, Associated Press, 12/1/1999
Trump proposes tax on rich Americans, By Ron Fournier, Associated Press, 11/10/1999
Gore attacks his rival's budget proposals, By Edwin Chen and Miguel Bustillo Los Angeles Times, 10/29/1999
GOP to reconsider plan to alter tax break, By Art Pine and Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times, 10/2/1999
Gore chides Bush over GOP plan to cut taxes, By Thomas Ferraro, Reuters, 9/23/1999
Bauer to propose own version of flat tax, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 9/23/1999
2000 issues cut Democrats' way, By Robert Kuttner, 9/12/1999
Forbes tax plan courts the poor, By Michael Kranish, Globe Staff, 9/11/1999
GOP finds tax cut plan not high voter priority, By Anne E. Kornblut, Globe Staff, 8/23/1999
Policy making descends into farce as the GOP passes tax cut bill, By Thomas Oliphant, Globe Columnist, 7/25/1999 -OPINION
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