ARKANSAS LEADER:

"WHO'S THE BIGGEST tax RAISER?"

By Ernie Dumas, Editorial writer for the Leader

December 1, 2007

"Mike Huckabee raised more taxes in 10 years in office than Bill Clinton did in his 12 years."

...

"Huckabee tax increases

• Imposed an income tax surcharge of 3 percent on tax liabilities of individuals and domestic and foreign corporations (Act 38, 1st special session of 2003). (It was temporary until revenues improved. The legislature repealed it in 2005.)

• Increased the sales tax by 1/8 of one percent by initiated act (but it was a personal campaign by Huckabee, who campaigned across the state for it and took a celebrated bass boat trip for 4 days down the Arkansas River holding press conferences in each river city to urge passage of the act)

• Increased the sales tax by one-half of 1 percent (Act 1492 of 1999)

• Increased the sales tax by 7/8ths of 1 percent and expand the sales tax to many services previously exempt from the tax (Act 107, 2nd special session of 2003)

• Collected a 2 percent tax on chewing tobacco, cigars, package tobacco, cigarette papers and snuff (Act 434 of 1997)

• Levied an additional excise tax of 7 percent on tobacco (Act 38 of 1st special session of 2003)

• Increased the tax on cigarette and tobacco permits (Act 1337 of 1997)

• Increased the tax on cigarette and tobacco – cigarettes by $1.25 per thousand cigarettes and 2 percent of the manufacturers? selling price on tobacco products (Act 434 of 1997)

• Increased the tax on cigarettes by 25 cents a pack (Act 38, 1st special session of 2003)

• Levied a 3 percent excise tax on all retail sales of beer (Act 1841 of 2001 and extended by Act 272 of 2003 and Act 2188 of 2005)

• Revived the 4 percent mixed drink tax of 1989 and added a 4 percent tax on private clubs (Act 1274 of 2005)

• Increased the tax on gasoline by 3 cents a gallon (Act 1028 of 1999)

• Increased the tax on diesel by 4 cents a gallon (Act 1028 of 1999) Note: Contrary to what Huckabee has said repeatedly in debates, speeches and TV shows, the 1999 gasoline and diesel taxes were not submitted to the voters and approved by 80 per cent of them. ?

• Increased the driver’s license by $6 a person, from $14 to $20 (Act 1500 of 2001)

...

"But if you look at the major taxes, I see the aggregate Huckabee taxes as greater, especially if you deduct the 4 cent gasoline and diesel taxes that Clinton vetoed in 1985 and that the legislature enacted over his veto.

"Anyway, the sales tax is the big revenue producer. Both raised it by 1.5 cents on the dollar and both expanded it to cover a myriad of services. Clinton raised motor fuel taxes a little more, Huckabee cigarette taxes a lot more.

"A further note: Huckabee claims credit for a major tax cut in 1997, saying it was the first tax cut in Arkansas history (there had been many prior to that) and that he forced the Democratic legislature to curtail its impulse to always raise taxes.

"The facts: The omnibus income tax cut bill of 1997 was proposed by Gov. Jim Guy Tucker in the spring of 1996."

...

"The 94 tax cuts that he said he fathered are similarly misleading. The vast majority of those were the usual exemptions and modifications of various taxes and fees that the legislature enacts every time it meets."

...

"If you counted all the tax benefits extended to corporations under the incentives enacted by the legislature under Clinton – and they were part of his programs, especially in 1983, 1985 and 1989 – the tax cuts would dwarf those under Huckabee."

To read the full editorial, please click [http://72.32.175.87:8080/opencms/opencms/News/Press-Releases/www.arkansasleader.com/2007/11/editorialswhos-biggest-tax-raiser.html|here].

Governor Mitt Romney On World AIDS Day

Saturday, Dec 01, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Romney Press Shop (85) 288-6390

Boston, MA – Today, Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on World AIDS Day:

"On World AIDS Day, we are reminded of the importance of America's commitment to fighting one of mankind's most deadly infectious diseases. Around the world, over 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. In 2007 alone, 2.5 million people became infected with HIV and another 2.1 million died from AIDS. To strengthen our fight against HIV/AIDS and bring hope to those afflicted with this disease, we need strong executive leadership that can build on President Bush's groundbreaking efforts.

"As President, I will mobilize our civilian instruments of power to address HIV/AIDS, poverty and other challenges across Africa by empowering a single U.S. official with the responsibility and authority to lead all of America's civilian efforts in the region. I will fundamentally transform our international aid efforts so that more of our assistance goes to those suffering rather than bureaucracy. Today, only one-third of all foreign aid gets to the people it was intended to help. That must change.

"As devastating as HIV/AIDS has been around the world, we must not forget that over a million Americans are living with the disease here at home. We should do all we can to ensure that America continues to lead the world in cutting-edge research and development into new medicines. I believe in supporting policies that foster innovation and get every American access to affordable, quality health insurance. I also believe that government should work in partnership with our nation's pharmaceutical researchers and manufacturers to advance the HIV/AIDS research agenda and move us toward a cure."