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Article: Capital gains fight takes on civil tone For GOP, Democrats, deals to reduce deficit take precedence over ideology
- Article from:
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)
- Article date:
- February 2, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1997 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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When Republicans pushed unsuccessfully for a steep reduction in
the capital gains tax in the late 1980s, their proposals were
attacked by Democrats as "a tax break for the wealthy paid for by
the middle class," as George Mitchell of Maine, then the Senate
majority leader, put it.
But when President Clinton was asked about the issue last week, he
avoided class-warfare rhetoric, saying he was not sure that cutting
the capital gains rate would help the economy but that he hoped both
sides would "keep their powder dry" as they try to negotiate a
balanced budget.
Taxes are still a politically potent symbol of the differing views