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Raise Taxes or Raise the Debt Ceiling
Reuters
By Tabassum Zakaria
September 21, 2006

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - President George W. Bush charged on Thursday that Democrats would raise taxes if put in control of the U.S. Congress, turning to a familiar campaign theme as he seeks to stave off Republican losses in November.

"If they get control of the House of Representatives, they'll raise your taxes. It'll hurt our economy. And that's why we're not going to let them get control of the House of Representatives," Bush said.

The president's blast was new language for the final seven weeks of the campaign ahead before the November 7 elections and aides said he plans extensive travel to try to help Republicans.

Bush rolled out the attack at an event that raised $450,000 for Republican Gus Bilirakis, running for a House seat held by his father, Rep. Mike Bilirakis, who is retiring after 12 terms in Congress.

Later, he was to attend a fundraiser in Orlando for Republican Charlie Crist, who is running against Democrat Jim Davis in the race for Florida governor to succeed the president's brother, Jeb Bush.

Accused by Democrats of bungling the Iraq war and refusing to consider new strategies for resolving it, Bush insisted it is important that the United States stick with Iraq.

"We will do our job and stand by the people of Iraq, and the world will be better for it, when democracy takes hold," Bush said.

Bush has been pushing for making tax cuts set in 2001 and 2003 permanent. His 2001 tax cut package slashed individual income tax rates and set a phased-in reduction in estate taxes, while the centerpiece of the 2003 package was cuts in dividends and capital gains taxes.

Most of Bush's tax cuts are set to expire after 2010. Democrats charge the tax cuts have mainly benefited the wealthy and contributed to a widening income gap.

Bush warned Democrats will say they have to raise taxes to balance the budget. "They will raise your taxes and figure out new ways to spend your money," he said. "The best way to balance the budget is to keep pro-growth policies in place."

One of those attending was Katherine Harris, a Republican running for Senate, whose relationship with the Bushes cooled after the White House and Republican Senate campaign committee tried to dissuade her from running in favor of a stronger candidate. Bush acknowledged her presence in his remarks.

Asked whether the president would help her fund-raising efforts, she said: "We haven't invited him," but her campaign continued to explore fund-raising activities.

Bush is intent on portraying his administration and the Republican Party as strong on national security, while Democrats are emphasizing an increasingly unpopular Iraq war.

He said the most important job that members of Congress will have is joining with the administration to "protect the United States."

Democrats would have to pick up six Senate seats and 15 House seats to take majorities in Congress from Republicans.

A New York Times-CBS News poll released on Wednesday showed public approval of Congress was at its lowest level -- 25 percent -- since the 1994 Republican takeover of both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Bush had an approval rating of 37 percent in the poll conducted September 15-19, unchanged from August. Most of Bush's tax cuts are set to expire after 2010. Democrats charge the tax cuts have mainly benefited the wealthy and contributed to a widening income gap.

Bush warned Democrats will say they have to raise taxes to balance the budget. "They will raise your taxes and figure out new ways to spend your money," he said. "The best way to balance the budget is to keep pro-growth policies in place."

One of those attending was Katherine Harris, a Republican running for Senate, whose relationship with the Bushes cooled after the White House and Republican Senate campaign committee tried to dissuade her from running in favor of a stronger candidate. Bush acknowledged her presence in his remarks.

Asked whether the president would help her fund-raising efforts, she said: "We haven't invited him," but her campaign continued to explore fund-raising activities.

Bush is intent on portraying his administration and the Republican Party as strong on national security, while Democrats are emphasizing an increasingly unpopular Iraq war.

He said the most important job that members of Congress will have is joining with the administration to "protect the United States."

Democrats would have to pick up six Senate seats and 15 House seats to take majorities in Congress from Republicans.

A New York Times-CBS News poll released on Wednesday showed public approval of Congress was at its lowest level -- 25 percent -- since the 1994 Republican takeover of both the House of Representatives and Senate.

Bush had an approval rating of 37 percent in the poll conducted September 15-19, unchanged from August.

A new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll showed that Bush's approval rating had risen to 44 percent from 41 percent in late June.

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