Conrad: ‘Work Both Sides Of The Equation’ On Taxes And Spending, Without Raising Rates
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND) called for an increase in tax revenue, without raising marginal rates, by closing tax loopholes. ” You know, let me just say this, revenue has to be part of this because revenue as a share of our national income is the lowest it has been in 60 years. Spending as a share of our national income is the highest it has been in 60 years. So you got to work both sides of the equation,” said Conrad, who served on President Obama’s debt commission. “But we did not raise tax rates, as this proposal, what we did was have tax reform. Let me just give you an example. In the Cayman Islands there is a little building, five-story building, called Ugland House, it claims to be the home of 18,000 companies. They all say they’re doing business in that little building, the only business they’re doing is monkey business. They’re avoiding paying the taxes that they owe. If you reform the tax code and collect that money, I don’t consider that a tax increase.”
Coburn: Increase Revenue By ‘Taking Away Tax Credits, Lowering The Tax Rate’
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) voiced his support for tax reforms that would increase overall revenue by closing loopholes and tax credits, without raising tax rates: “Well, we’re not talking about it [raising rates]. I think if you go back and look at the commission’s report, what we were talking about is getting significant dynamic effects by taking away tax credits, lowering the tax rate and having an economic increase that will actually increase the revenues to the federal government.”
McCain: ‘It’s Pretty Obvious To Me That The United States Has Got To Play A Greater Role In The Airpower Side’
Appearing on Meet The Press, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said of the conflict in Libya: “This is a, this is a pretty bloody situation, and it has the earmarks of being a stalemate. Now, we hope that Qaddafi will crumble from within, but hope is not a strategy. And it’s pretty obvious to me that we need–even though I was glad to see the Predator now in the fight–it’s pretty obvious to me that the United States has got to play a greater role in the airpower side.”
McCain On Libya Situation: ‘Right Now It’s Not Al Qaeda That Motivated This’
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that rebel forces in Libya need training and equipment in order to win quickly — and also to head off possible al Qaeda influence in the country. “If you have a stalemate, I think it’s very possible that Al Qaeda could come in and take advantage of a stalemate situation,” said McCain, who was being interviewed from Egypt following his recent trip to Libya. “But right now it’s not al Qaeda that motivated this and it’s not al Qaeda that’s running it.”
Graham: ‘Go To Tripoli, Start Bombing Qaddafi’s Inner Circle’
Appearing on State of the Union, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for a targeted bombing campaign against Muammar Qaddafi and his leadership structure. “Go to Tripoli, start bombing Qaddafi’s inner circle, their compounds, their military headquarters in Tripoli,” said Graham. “I think the focus should now be to cut the head of the snake off. That’s the quickest way to end this.”
Blumenthal Calls For Investigation Into Gas Prices
Appearing on Face The Nation, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) called for an investigation of gasoline speculation and high prices, above and beyond President Obama’s task force on the subject. “The problem is it is not investigatory, it is more to monitor and follow the developments,” Blumenthal said of Obama’s task force. “I commend and applaud the president for focusing on this issue, but I think there really needs to be an investigation involving, for example, subpoenas and compulsory process which I used as attorney general in similar investigations.”
Santorum: ‘I Would Say That That Was A Mistake’ To Vote For Unpaid Medicare Drug Benefit
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, former Sen. Santorum (R-PA) said that it was a mistake to vote in 2003 for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, which now costs $60 billion per year and was passed with no mechanism to pay for it. “I would say that that was a mistake,” said Santorum, who is now exploring a run for president.
