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Candidate Positions on Tax Cuts

The following positions reflect those used for each candidate in the Select A Candidate survey. They come from the candidates; public statements, Web sites, and responses to Minnesota Public Radio questionnaires. In some cases, candidiates have failed to respond to inquiries, and their position is noted as "No known opinion."

Question: Should the President's tax cuts be made permanent?
Dean BarkleyDean Barkley ANSWER OPTION: No
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: I would be willing to extend them for one more year to see if Congress can adopt a new attitude about deficit spending. Once Congress can get its spending under control, I would then look at a new tax policy that would help balance the budget.

Norm ColemanNorm Coleman ANSWER OPTION: Yes
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: Voted NO on $47 billion for military by repealing capital gains tax cut (Feb. 2006). Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends (Feb. 2006). Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends (Nov. 2005). Voted YES on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years (May 2003). Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (March 2007). Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts (Aug. 2006). Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax` (June 2006). (More Info)

Al FrankenAl Franken ANSWER OPTION: No
 CANDIDATE'S POSITION: In a written statement to MPR Franken said, "I am strongly opposed to making Bush's tax cuts permanent. Never before in the history of our country have we had a tax cut during a time of war - and under this Administration, we've had two. That's ridiculous. We should not extend the tax cuts for the top 1%. When President Clinton raised the top marginal tax rate, Republicans claimed it would lead to financial ruin. Instead, it led to unprecedented prosperity. I think we should go back to unprecedented prosperity."

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