Wonkish offerings from Romney, Obama

And for all you substantive-policy freaks out there, here are two appropriately dense offerings, which came to me in back-to-back e-mails today.

First, I got this note from William Holley, a very nice young man with the Romney campaign:

Good morning everyone –

 Please take a moment to look at Governor Romney’s newly
released Strategy for a Stronger America – a compilation of  more than 50 policy
proposals covering everything from fighting radical jihad to achieving energy
independence to ending illegal immigration to controlling federal spending.  You
can even download your very own copy, absolutely free of
charge.


Introducing the Strategy for a Stronger America, Governor
Romney wrote: "Our future depends on our willingness to hold to the principles
that have guided and built our nation.  It depends on the character and
sacrifices of the American people.  And it depends on leadership to craft and
implement a Strategy for a Stronger America." 

— Will

Right next to that was another earnest release from Barack Obama, which I invite y’all to read and tell me what you think of it. I MIGHT be able to wade through the highlights of a strategic-vision document, but it’s more than I can bear to obsess over tax policy — although I have great respect for Obama for doing so, because there’s a world full of folks out there who care about such:

Obama
Announces Major Middle Class Tax Relief Plan
Embargoed
Remarks Provided Below

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama today announced a bold and innovative plan to reform America’s tax code so that it works for the middle class in a speech to the Tax Policy Center in Washington, DC. Obama’s plan would provide a substantial tax cut for nearly all working Americans, for homeowners, and for low- and middle-income seniors.   

Obama made the case that our current tax code reflects the wrong priorities by rewarding wealth instead of work, and he pledged to restore fairness to the tax code to strengthen the American economy.

Obama’s middle class tax relief plan would provide $80-85 billion in tax cuts to America’s workers, seniors and homeowners by:

  • Cutting taxes for 150 million Americans and their families,
    allowing them to get a tax cut of up to $1000.
  • Easing the burden on the middle class by providing a
    universal homeowner’s tax credit to those who do not itemize their deductions,
    immediately benefiting 10 million homeowners, the majority of whom make under
    $50,000 per year.
  • Eliminating the income tax for any American senior making
    less than $50,000 per year, eliminating income taxes for about 7 million
    American seniors.
  • Simplifying tax filings so millions of Americans can do
    their taxes in less than 5 minutes.

Obama would pay for his tax reform plan by closing corporate
loopholes, cracking down on international tax havens, closing the carried
interest loophole, and increasing the dividends and capital gains rate for the
top bracket.

The plan can be viewed in full HERE.

2 thoughts on “Wonkish offerings from Romney, Obama”

  1. weldon VII

    Wow! Now I have reasons to vote for Obama. No taxes for my wife, a tax credit for her, a tax credit for me, maybe even a $1,000 tax cut, too…
    Of course, I have just about the same chance of winning the Powerball as Obama has to get such a plan through two legislative bodies riddled with powerful Democrats.
    Keep preaching McCain, Brad. I’m about to become a believer.

  2. Bryant Anderson

    In regard to Liz Sidoti’s well publicized Associated Press article over the week end. The use of the word “wonkish” is part of a mean spirited personal attack on Romney. The term means unsteady and shaky according to the dictionary. Ms Liz Sidoti has written other negative Associated Press articles undermining Romney’s bid for the presidency. Personal attacks are not acceptable or credible journalism. Of all the presidential candidates Romney has the most stable marriage, stabilized the Olympics, stabilized companies going broke, stablized the Massachusetts budget to produce a positive surplus the and has demonstrated in his campaign a firm understanding of the issues. Do you expect him to form his opinions or make his decisions without looking at the facts and the data? Ms Liz Sidoti is the wonkish one in this equation and evidently has a reason for wanting to undermine Romney’s campaign.

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