EWING’S TRIPLE FLIP-FLOP ON TAXES COULD COST 710,000 JOBS

Democratic congressional candidate John Ewing is contorting himself like a pretzel on the key issue of tax cuts, staking out three different positions on the same issue within the past year.  His latest stand, unfortunately, could trigger a loss of 710,000 jobs across the United States.

 “Mr. Ewing might think he is ‘going for the gold’, but his triple flip-flop on taxes is a real embarrassment,” said U.S. Rep. Lee Terry.

·         On July 17, 2011, Ewing said the current tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 should be repealed, essentially leading to a $166 billion tax increase on the middle class beginning January 1, 2013.  (Omaha World-Herald, story by Robyn Tysver, July 17, 2011)

  • Two days after stating his first position on the issue, Ewing flipped. He told a Lincoln newspaper he would vote to repeal the tax cuts “only for millionaires, those making over $1 million a year.”  (Lincoln Journal-Star, story by Don Walton, July 19, 2011)
  • Today, Ewing outlined his third position on the issue:  repeal the tax cuts for anyone earning more than $200,000 or $250,000 for joint filers.  (Omaha World-Herald, story by Roseann Moring, August 3, 2012)

 “I just wonder what Mr. Ewing’s position on taxes will be next week.  No matter how you cut it, his positions are bad for economic growth and jobs,” said Terry.

Ewing’s latest position on taxes could have serious negative ramifications for the economy.  A new report suggests that repealing the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for individuals who earn over $200,000 could lead to a loss of 710,000 jobs nationally and reduce economic output by 1.3 percent, or $200 billion over the long-term.[1]  Ewing’s new tax-hike plan is poorly timed in view of today’s announcement that unemployment nationally rose to 8.3 percent in July.

The 2001 and 2003 tax cuts lowered taxes on wage earners, families with children, small businesses and seniors.  Terry voted for the original tax cuts and voted this week in the U.S. House to extend them.