Watching a news show today, I saw a clip of Harry Reid denigrating Republicans in terms of tax cuts — he made the claim that "when Republicans were in control" that tax cuts went solely to the wealthy, while "middle class families" (he might have said "working families") were "told no".  In response, I sent the following letter:

Dear Senate Majority Leader Reid,

In a clip shown on an evening news show, you denigrated the tax cuts enacted during the Bush Administration and while the Republicans were in control in Congress.  You made the factually inaccurate claim that when Republicans were in control, tax cuts were only for the wealthy, while families were told "no".  I would point out that under the so-called "Bush tax cuts", certainly the top tax rate was decreased — from 39.6% to 35%.  However, the lowest tax bracket was also lowered from 15% to 10%, all other brackets were reduced, child tax credits were increased, and the so-called "marriage penalty" was also removed.  Following implementation of the tax cut, the percentage in taxes paid by the "richest Americans" actually increased.

Intelligent people can disagree on whether or not cutting tax rates promotes economic growth, or whether tax rate reductions while fighting two wars is fiscally responsible, or even whether or not we should use the tax code to incentivize certain behaviors.  I personally think that the tax code should be simplified and the rates reduced even further.  What's not debatable, however, are the facts, and the facts show that the tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 were not only for "the rich", and working and middle class families were certainly not excluded.

Sincerely,
Dave Smith
Houston, TX