Taxes

I want our region's economy to grow again, and I understand tax relief is important to helping all families achieve the American dream. As a mother of five, I favor a tax plan that will cut taxes for middle-class families. As a small business owner myself, I intend to cut taxes for small businesses and companies that create jobs in northwest Pennsylvania. I will end the tax breaks that send jobs overseas. Instead, I will create jobs right here in northwest Pennsylvania with tax incentives that make our region a key player in alternative energy innovation.

I support a plan that will cut taxes for 95 percent of workers and their families by giving a tax cut of $500 to every worker or $1,000 for every working couple. I want to provide generous tax cuts for low- and middle-income seniors, homeowners, the uninsured, and families sending a child to college or looking to save and accumulate wealth.

In order to grow the economy here in Pennsylvania, I want to end the Bush tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas. Instead, I want to eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses, cut corporate taxes for firms that invest and create jobs in the United States, and provide tax credits to reduce the cost of healthcare and to reward investments in innovation.

If I have my way, all middle-class families will see their taxes cut. In fact, no family making less than $250,000 would see their taxes go up. Instead, the typical middle-class family will receive well over $1,000 in tax relief, and tax rates will be 20 percent lower than they were under President Reagan.

I understand our government must live within its means. I believe that if we trim wasteful spending, we can pay for this tax relief while bringing down the budget deficit. I will pay for the middle-class tax cuts by requiring the wealthiest 2 percent of families to give back a portion of the tax cuts they have received under President Bush to ensure we are restoring fairness to our tax code and returning to fiscal responsibility.