FISCAL (IR)RESPONSIBILITY TO FISCAL DISCIPLINE?

Coleman has voted at least thirteen times to put tax cuts for the rich ahead of a balanced budget and middle class America. And he wants to make permanent most of a $1.3 trillion tax-cut bill championed by President George W. Bush Coleman touted the GOP strategy of using tax cuts to strengthen the economy despite it being very clear that the Bush tax cuts have done little to help the economy or Minnesota families.

In 2003, Coleman voted against a substitute amendment to the Bush tax cuts that only benefit the rich. The substitute bill would have created a wage credit of up to $765 per worker or $1,530 per working couple while giving an equivalent tax credit to employers. It would have provided $52 billion in fiscal relief to states, accelerated reductions in the so-called marriage penalty, increased the child tax credit to $1,000 by 2006, allowed businesses to write off $100,000 in investment for one year, created a 50 percent tax credit for small business health care expenses, created wage credits for employers in Renewal Communities, created a 50 percent tax credit for companies with employees in the National Guard and Reserves and extended unemployment benefits by 13 weeks.

In March 2007, Coleman voted against a Senate budget that aimed to extend middle class tax cuts, restore funding for kids' health, veterans and schools, and eliminate the deficit in fiscal 2012.

In May 2007, Coleman voted against eliminating the deficit, creating a $41 billion surplus, and providing middle tax relief including extension of the child tax credit, 10 percent bracket and marriage penalty relief as well as immediate Alternative Minimum Tax relief, preventing about 20 million middle class taxpayers from being hit by the tax