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Bob Smith on Tax Reform

Republican Sr Senator (NH; retired 2002)


Reduce taxes instead of making taxes more progressive

Q: Do you support or oppose making taxes more progressive?

A: Do not support.

Source: Email interview on 2010 Senate race with OnTheIssues.org Mar 4, 2010

Tobacco bill was a $500B tax bill in disguise

The tobacco bill that failed in the Senate last year would have imposed a tax increase of at least half a trillion dollars that would have fallen disproportionately on the poorest American families. Many politicians and interest groups were relying on the revenue raised by those tax hikes to fund spending on a wide range of programs many of which have nothing at all to do with smoking; and would have lavishly enriched a small number of trial lawyers involved in state lawsuits.
Source: senate.gov/~smith “Smith on the Issues” Aug 30, 1999

Throw out tax code & fire IRS agents who harass citizens

I’d throw out the existing tax code and I’d start over. I would offer an across-the-board 10-percent tax cut for Americans, cut the capital gains tax, double the personal exemption and fire any IRS agent in America who harasses an American citizen.
Source: CNN.com Campaign 2000 Jul 2, 1999

Lower taxes for individuals and businesses

Smith has consistently been an advocate of lower taxes for individuals, families and businesses. He was a vocal supporter of the $500 per child tax credit, the reduction in the capital gains tax and the increase of the threshold of the inheritance tax, all of which allow families to keep more of what they earn to raise their own children and save for the future. Senator Smith also cosponsored the Tax Code Termination Act to eliminate the current tax code by the year 2002.
Source: www.smithforpresident.org/issues.htm May 19, 1999

Overhaul the entire tax system

Americans pay too much in taxes. They spend countless hours every year agonizing over complicated tax forms. I would throw out the exisiting tax code and start over. I would eliminate the marriage penalty and the inheritance tax. I would offer an across the board 10% tax cut for every American, cut the capital gains tax, and double the personal exemption, and I would fire any IRS agent that harasses an American taxpayer.
Source: www.SmithForPresident.org/ “Annoucement Speech” Mar 29, 1999

Flat tax ok, consumption tax not.

When asked, “Do you support replacing the US income tax structure with a flat income tax?,” Sen. Smith responded, “Yes.” When asked, “Do you support replacing the US income tax structure with a broad-based consumption tax?,” Sen. Smith responded, “No.”
Source: 1996 National Political Awareness Test Jul 2, 1996

Voted NO on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates.

Vote to expand the standard deduction and 15% income tax bracket for couples. The elimination of the "marriage penalty" tax would be offset by reducing the marginal tax rate reductions for the top two rate bracket
Reference: Bill HR 1836 ; vote number 2001-112 on May 17, 2001

Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition.

Vote to increase the tax deduction for college tuition costs from $5,000 to $12,000 and increase the tax credit on student loan interest from $500 to $1,000. The expense would be offset by limiting the cut in the top estate tax rate to 53%.
Reference: Bill HR 1836 ; vote number 2001-114 on May 17, 2001

Voted YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'.

Vote on a bill that would reduce taxes on married couples by increasing their standard deduction to twice that of single taxpayers and raise the income limits on both the 15 percent and 28 percent tax brackets for married couples to twice that of singles
Reference: Bill HR.4810 ; vote number 2000-215 on Jul 18, 2000

Voted YES on across-the-board spending cut.

The Nickles (R-OK) Amdendment would express the sense of the Senate that Congress should adopt an across-the-board cut in all discretionary funding, to prevent the plundering of the Social Security Trust Fund
Status: Amdt. Agreed to Y)54; N)46
Reference: Nickles Amdt #1889; Bill S. 1650 ; vote number 1999-313 on Oct 6, 1999

Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes.

Senator Kyl (R-AZ) offered an amendment to the 1999 budget resolution to express the sense of the Senate on support for a Constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority to pass tax increases.
Status: Amdt Agreed to Y)50; N)48; NV)2
Reference: Kyl Amdt #2221; Bill S Con Res 86 ; vote number 1998-71 on Apr 2, 1998

Other candidates on Tax Reform: Bob Smith on other issues:
NH Gubernatorial:
John Lynch
NH Senatorial:
Jeanne Shaheen
Kelly Ayotte

Retiring as of Jan. 2011:
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Page last updated: Nov 26, 2010