ATR Releases Updated 2008 Presidential Tax Matrix

Americans for Tax Reform today released an updated version of its "Presidential Tax Matrix." This handy one-page reference tracks all the Presidential candidates on their positions related to major tax issues.

Candidates Compete to Embrace Pro-Taxpayer Agenda

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans for Tax Reform today released an updated version of its "Presidential Tax Matrix." This handy one-page reference tracks all the Presidential candidates on their positions related to major tax issues.

Since releasing the initial version of the tax matrix last week, two campaigns have added on additional tax proposals which fulfill matrix metrics. Gov. Mitt Romney endorsed full business expensing (albeit for only two years). Sen. John McCain embraced a cut in the corporate tax rate to 25 percent and permanent full business expensing. Further, Mayor Rudy Giuliani's tax plan was introduced as "The Fair and Simple Tax Act of 2008" in the House (H.R. 5105) by Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) and in the Senate (S. 2547) by Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO).

"Free market competition is alive and well in the GOP presidential field," said ATR President Grover Norquist. "These candidates are trying to out-jockey each other to be the best pro-taxpayer candidate."

The Presidential Tax Matrix tells voters whether the various candidates have indicated inwriting that they affirmatively support each pro-growth tax policy. The categories are:

Taxpayer Protection Pledge: Has the candidate pledged -- in writing -- to oppose and vetoincome tax hikes?

Bush Income and Investment Tax Cuts Permanent: Has the candidate supported permanentextension of the Bush tax cuts on ordinary income and capital gains/dividends?

Permanent Death Tax Repeal: Has the candidate committed to fully killing the death tax?

Repeal the AMT: Has the candidate called for the full repeal of the alternative minimum tax?

Alternative System: Has the candidate called for an alternate system taxpayers could opt into?

New Capital Gains Tax Cut: Has the candidate called for a fresh cut in the capital gains rate?

Corporate Income Tax Rate Cut: Has the candidate called for a cut in the corporate incometax rate?

Tax-Free Savings Accounts: Has the candidate called for simplifying, consolidating, andexpanding tax-free savings account opportunities?

Full Business Expensing: Has the candidate advocated replacing long depreciation lives withimmediate expensing for business asset purchases?

Territoriality: Has the candidate called for the U.S. to conform to the rest of the world inseeking to only tax that income earned within our territorial borders?

Health Care Tax Reform: Has the candidate put forward a comprehensive reform of the waythe tax code treats health care spending to promote a free market?

The updated tax matrix can be viewed at http://www.atr.org/.