"My middle class tax cut is exactly what the sluggish U.S. economy needs. It would lower marginal tax rates, raise economic growth immediately and over the longer term, and over the next five years lead to an additional $2,000 for every man, woman and child in America. It is what the Wall Street Journal would call 'the right stimulus.'"
» Americans For Prosperity Michigan Summit, Jan. 12, 2008
Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., platform includes several measures aimed at reducing taxes.
Here are his proposals:
Permanently repeal the alternative minimum tax.
Make President Bush's tax cuts permanent.
Require a "super-majority," three-fifths vote for Congress to raise taxes.
Reform the estate tax to exempt estates worth up to $10 million and cut the tax rate to 15 percent.
Keep current income tax rates and rates on dividends and capital gains.
Permanently ban Internet taxes and new cell phone taxes.
Reform and make permanent the research and development (R&D) tax credit.
*Sen. McCain's voting record on taxes:
Voted
Topic
Date
NO
Bush tax cuts because they didn't rein in spending.
May 2007
YES
Repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax.
March 2007
YES
Raising estate tax exemption to $5 million.
March 2007
YES
Supporting permanence of estate tax cuts.
August 2006
YES
Permanently repealing the "death tax."
June 2006
NO
$47 billion for the military by repealing extension of the capital gains tax cut.
February 2006
YES
Retaining reduced taxes on capital gains and dividends.
February 2006
YES
Extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends.
November 2005
NO
$350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years.
May 2003
YES
Reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates.
May 2001
NO
Increasing tax deductions for college tuition.
May 2001
YES
Eliminating the "marriage penalty."
July 2000
YES
Phasing out the estate tax ("death tax").
July 2000
NO
Across-the-board spending cut.
October 1999
YES
Requiring super-majority for raising taxes.
April 1998
N/A
Rated 72 percent by National Taxpayers Union, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes.
December 2003
N/A
Rated 50 percent by Citizens for Tax Justice, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation.
December 2006
Source: On the Issues
*Members of Congress sometimes vote on different versions of a bill. Voting yes or no on one doesn't mean they'll vote the same way on succeeding versions.
"My middle class tax cut is exactly what the sluggish U.S. economy needs. It would lower marginal tax rates, raise economic growth immediately and over the longer term, and over the next five years lead to an additional $2,000 for every man, woman and child in America. It is what the Wall Street Journal would call 'the right stimulus.'" 
