McGovern (D-Mass.) suggests new tax to pay for war [View All]

[babylonsister]

McGovern suggests new tax to pay for war
By Mike Soraghan
July 31, 2007

Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) is proposing an “Iraq tax” that would drive home the cost of the unpopular war to all Americans as it helps to pay for it.

“It would make everybody sacrifice,” said McGovern. “So far, the only ones who have felt the impact of this war is a small sliver of the citizenry.”

McGovern would exempt service members and their families. Beyond that, he says many of the details, such as whether it would be an income or other kind of tax, have not yet been worked out. But he expects to introduce it before Congress leaves for its August break.

The measure would carry forward the Democratic talking point that the only sacrifice the general public has made for the Iraq war is President Bush’s tax cuts. It also comes as some anti-war protesters are taking their protest fights to American’s wallets.

In a dozen U.S. cities, the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker pacifist group, is displaying seven-foot banners that stress the cost of the war and what else the money could be spent on.

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http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mcgovern-suggests-new-tax-to-pay-for-war-2007-07-31.html