WARNER BRINGS HIS LIBERAL TAX AND SPEND POLICIES TO CAMPAIGN FOR BOSWELL

DES MOINES – Tax and spend liberal Mark Warner is in Iowa today, stumping for Congressman Leonard Boswell.  Warner, former Governor of Virginia, is famous for breaking a campaign promise not to raise taxes.

“It’s not surprising that Boswell would decide to bring Mark Warner with a record of breaking campaign promises by raising taxes,” said Republican Party of Iowa Executive Director Cullen Sheehan.  “Boswell has never been opposed to raising taxes and is familiar with breaking campaign promises, like his first campaign promise to term limit himself.” (Des Moines Register, 12/19/2002)

Sheehan continued, “Mark Warner has a history of flip flopping on taxes.  Despite a campaign promise not to raise taxes, while Governor of Virginia he supported raising billions of dollars in taxes time and time again.”

“Leonard Boswell and former Governor Warner can have their pro-tax party, but Third District Iowan’s can’t afford that type of tax and spend leadership,” Sheehan concluded.
 

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner (D) Supported Tax Hikes:

In 2002, Warner Supported Raising Taxes By $5 Billion. (R.H. Melton, “Nearing The Stretch, Sales Tax Plan Supporters Pulling Ahead,” The Washington Post, 9/26/02)

“[Virginia Governor Mark Warner’s] First Major Initiative Was To Push For A Local Sales Tax Increase To Pay For Transportation Programs In Northern Virginia.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)
 

• “After Working Hard In His Gubernatorial Campaign Against Mark Earley To Deny He Is A Typical Tax-And-Spend Liberal, Warner Then Waged A Tireless Effort On Behalf Of A Northern Virginia Referendum To Raise Taxes For Transportation. That Failed Spectacularly.” (A. Barton Hinkle, Op-Ed, “Donnybrook Over The Estate Tax Leaves Both Sides Bruised,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 4/8/03)

“In November 2003 Warner Proposed A Massive $1 Billion Tax Increase That Raised Income Taxes, Sales Taxes, And Cigarette Taxes And Restoration Of The Estate Tax.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)
 

• “[In 2003] The Governor Put Tax ‘Reform’ On His Agenda, But Refused To Release The Details Prior To The General Assembly’s Elections.  Two Weeks After The Vote - Which Saw Democrats Pick Up Two Seats In The House But Lose One In The Senate - He Announced His Tax Program.” (Editorial, “Leadership,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 12/1/03)

• “Warner Ended Up Signing A Compromise $1.3 Billion Tax Hike.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)

“The Governor Then Charged Full-Throttle Against Repealing The Estate Tax.” After brief campaigns on behalf of gubernatorial self-succession and a primary-enforcement seatbelt law (both of which also failed), the Governor then charged full-throttle against repealing the estate tax. Finally, he has prevailed in a high-profile endeavor: sustaining a tax opposed by a large majority of voters.” (A. Barton Hinkle, Op-Ed, “Donnybrook Over The Estate Tax Leaves Both Sides Bruised,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 4/8/03)

In 2004, Gov. Warner Supported Higher Taxes: “[VA Gov. Mark] Warner Has Proposed A $1 Billion, Two-Year Tax Increase And Has Ridiculed Republican Proposals To Submit Proposed Tax Increases To The Voters In A Referendum.” (Tyler Whitley, “Negotiators Get To Work,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 3/5/04)
 

• In The End, Warner “Ushered” A $1.4 Billion Increase Through The Legislature. (“Two Legislators Compete For Attorney General,” The Associated Press, 11/8/05)

Warner Attempted To Raise Taxes Despite Public Opposition:

Warner Broke His “No New Taxes” Pledge. (Editorial, “Enough Said,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 3/11/04; Editorial, “Tax Addenda,” Richmond Times Dispatch, 2/25/04)

“That Part Of The State Voted Overwhelmingly For Warner In The General Election Just A Year Before, But In The November 2002 Special Election The Sales Tax Hike Was Trounced.” (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 65)
 

• Voters In Northern Virginia Rejected The Tax Increase By More Than 55 Percent Of The Vote. (Stephen Moore and Steven Slivinski, “Fiscal Policy Report Card On America’s Governors: 2004,” Cato Institute, 3/1/05, p. 11)