Thursday, April 10, 2008

Cong. Foster: A tax increase for families outside the middle class, with incomes above 200K?

Cong. Bill Foster (D- Geneva, 14th CD): …Now, Democrats in Congress are fighting to cut taxes for middle class families who need relief…

Democratic Response to the President’s weekly address, taped on March 28, 2008 and broadcast on March 29, 2008 [See here for more about the Democratic Response and background on the Special election contest between Democrat Foster [who has declined, to date, to appear on "Public Affairs,"] and his Republican opponent, Jim Oberweis [watch here] and the Fall, 2008 re-match.
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Cong. Bill Foster …One of the big difficulties that I had with [the Democratic Budget] is that it didn’t really lock in the middle class tax cuts that I had campaigned on. There appeared to be not tight enough language to really guarantee those will actually take place …

Press Conference, Cong. Foster, March 28, 2008 [See here and below for additional partial transcripts of the presser].
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Jeff Berkowitz: What family income level would you protect [from tax increases]? You talked about…not wanting to overturn the Bush tax cuts with respect to those with middle incomes? How would you define that? Would you not raise taxes on people who have incomes up to $150,000?

Cong. Bill Foster (D- Geneva,14th CD): I’d say the top 1 or 2 %. The bottom 98% of the U. S. I would try to protect.

Jeff Berkowitz: Do you know the figure, though. Is that to you less than $200,000 [in annual family income], or what figure?

Cong. Bill Foster: Well, 1% I believe is above $200,000 and 2% is a little below $200,000. But, it’s a number in that range and frankly, as a freshman in congress I am not going to be driving that bus.

Press Conference, Cong. Foster, March 28, 2008
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Jeff Berkowitz, Show Host/Producer of "Public Affairs," and Executive Legal Recruiter doing legal search,
can be reached at JBCG@aol.com. You may watch "Public Affairs," shows with Presidential Candidates Obama and McCain, former Presidential candidate Richardson-- and many other pols, including this week's show with Senator Radogno, last week's show with Rep. Lang, and and prior shows in the City of Chicago and Aurora with WGN Political Pundit and Roosevelt University Professor Paul Green at www.PublicAffairsTv.com
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Recently posted shows on the Public Affairs Youtube page include this week's show in the Chicago North and Northwest Chicago metro suburbs with Senator Radogno, last week's show with Rep. Lang [Watch Lang, Part 2], the prior week's show with Rep. Lang [Lang, Part 1] , our prior show in Chicago and Aurora with WGN Radio political pundit Paul Green, a prior show with Senator and likely 2010 Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady,our show with former Sen. Rauschenberger, assessing Barack Obama, our prior show with Republican U.S. Senate Republican nominee Dr. Steve Sauerberg, discussing his Democratic opponent--Senator Durbin-- and domestic, cultural and foreign policy issues, our prior show featuring State Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston,IL), discussing Barack Obama, as well as various Illinois Budget issues (spending, mass transit, capital budget, education, gaming and taxes) and possible 2010 Illinois gubernatorial candidates and 2010 U. S. Senate candidates (assuming Obama moves up to President in 2008) , a discussion with State's Attorney for Cook County Republican nominee Tony Peraica; and Anita Alvarez, Chief Deputy to current State's Attorney for Cook County Dick Devine and now the Democratic nominee for State's Attorney of Cook County.