Sherrod Brown on Taxes - 1999 Tax Relief Act

Over The Course Of His Congressional Career Sherrod Brown Has Voted At Least EIGHTY-THREE Times For Higher Taxes.

During His Time In Congress, Brown Has Voted At Least SIXTEEN Times Against Tax Relief For Married Couples.

During His Time In Congress, Brown Has Voted At Least FIFTEEN Times Against Repealing The Estate Tax.

Brown Voted FOR The Clinton Tax Hike, The Largest Tax Increase In U.S. History.

Brown Voted AGAINST Passing The 1999 Tax Relief Act.

Brown Voted Against Critical Provisions Of The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts.

Brown Voted Outright AGAINST Passing The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts.

Brown Voted AGAINST Making The 2001 Tax Cuts Permanent.

Brown Voted At Least FOUR Times Against Accelerating A Tax Cut For Middle-Class Americans From President Bush’s 2001 Tax Cut Package.

Brown Voted At Least TWICE Against Passing The 2003 Bush Tax Cuts.

Brown Voted To Raise Federal Gas Taxes In 1993, And Voted Against A Repeal Of The Gas Tax Increase Three Years Later.

Brown Voted At Least TWICE To Raise Taxes On Social Security Benefits. He Later Voted At Least THREE Times Against Repealing That Tax Hike.

Sherrod Brown’s History Of Voting For Higher Taxes:

Over The Course Of His Congressional Career Sherrod Brown Has Voted At Least EIGHTY-THREE Times For Higher Taxes. (H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #199: Passed 219-213: R 0-175; D 218-38; I 1-0, May 27, 1993, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2264, CQ Vote #406: Adopted 218-216: R 0-175; D 217-41; I 1-0, August 5, 1993, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 1215, CQ Vote #295: Passed 246-188: R 219-11; D 27-176; I 0-1, April 5, 1995. Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3415, CQ Vote #182: Passed 301-108: R 208-15; D 92-93; I 1-0, May 21, 1996, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2014, CQ Vote #245: Passed 253-179: R 226-1; D 27-177; I 0-1, June 26, 1997, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2014, CQ Vote #243: Rejected 197-235: R 0-227; D 196-8; I 1-0, June 26, 1997, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 284, CQ Vote #210: Adopted 216-204: R 213-9; D 3-194; I 0-1, June 5, 1998, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4579, CQ Vote #469: Passed 229-195: R 210-11; D 19-183; I 0-1, September 26, 1998, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #76: Rejected 173-250: R 0-216; D 173-33; I 0-1, March 25, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #77: Adopted 221-208: R 217-2; D 4-205; I 0-1, March 25, 1999, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #80: Motion agreed to 349-44: R 161-44; D 187-0; I 1-0, April 12, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 220-208: R 217-3; D 3-204; I 0-1, April 14, 1999, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #331: Rejected 173-258: R 1-220; D 171-38; I 1-0, July 22, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #332: Motion rejected 211-220: R 1-220; D 209-0; I 1-0, July 22, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #333: Passed 223-208: R 217-4; D 6-203; I 0-1, July 22, 1999, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #356: Motion rejected 205-213: R 0-212; D 204-1; I 1-0, August 2, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #378: Motion rejected 205-221: R 0-218; D 204-3; I 1-0, August 5, 1999, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #379: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 221-206: R 216-4; D 5-201; I 0-1, August 5, 1999, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3081, CQ Vote #41: Passed 257-169: R 215-1; D 41-167; I 1-1, March 9, 2000, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #252: Rejected 196-222: R 3-213; D 192-8; I 1-1, June 9, 2000, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #254: Passed 279-136: R 213-0; D 65-135; I 1-1, June 9, 2000, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #390: Rejected 198-228: R 0-219; D 197-8; I 1-1, July 12, 2000, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #391: Motion rejected 197-230: R 0-219; D 196-10; I 1-1, July 12, 2000, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #392: Passed 269-159: R 220-0; D 48-158; I 1-1, July 12, 2000, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #418: Adopted 271-156: R 219-0; D 51-155; I 1-1, July 20, 2000, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4865, CQ Vote #450: Passed 265-159: R 212-3; D 52-155; I 1-1, July 27, 2000. Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4865, CQ Vote #449: Rejected 169-256: R 1-215; D 167-40; I 1-1, July 27, 2000, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #458: Rejected 274-157: R 220-1; D 53-155; I 1-1, September 7, 2000, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4810, CQ Vote #466: Rejected 270-158: R 221-0; D 48-157; I 1-1, September 13, 2000, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3, CQ Vote #42: Rejected 155-273: R 0-219; D 154-53; I 1-1, March 8, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3, CQ Vote #44: Motion rejected 204-221: R 0-218; D 203-2; I 1-1, March 8, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3, CQ Vote #45: Passed 230-198: R 219-0; D 10-197; I 1-1, March 8, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #66: ejected 79-343: R 0-217; D 78-125; I 1-1, March 28, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #67: Rejected 204-221: R 12-206; D 191-14; I 1-1, March 28, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #68: Rejected 81-341: R 79-139; D 1-201; I 1-1, March 28, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #69: Rejected 183-243: R 0-219; D 182-23; I 1-1, March 28, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #70: Adopted 222-205: R 218-2; D 3-202; I 1-1, March 28, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #73: Rejected 196-231: R 0-218; D 195-12; I 1-1, March 29, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #74: Motion rejected 184-240: R 0-216; D 183-23; I 1-1, March 29, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 6, CQ Vote #75: Passed 282-144: R 217-0; D 64-143; I 1-1, March 29, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #82: Rejected 201-227: R 3-215; D 197-11; I 1-1, April 4, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #83: Motion rejected 192-235: R 0-218; D 191-16; I 1-1, April 4, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 83, CQ Vote #104: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 221-207: R 214-3; D 6-203; I 1-1, May 9, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #84: Passed 274-154: R 215-3; D 58-150; I 1-1, April 4, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #117: Rejected 188-239: R 0-218; D 187-20; I 1-1, May 16, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #118: Passed 230-197: R 216-0; D 13-196; I 1-1, May 16, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #146: Motion rejected 198-210: R 1-205; D 196-4; I 1-1, May 23, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 1836, CQ Vote #149: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 240-154: R 211-0; D 28-153; I 1-1, May 26, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3090, CQ Vote #402: Rejected 166-261: R 0-217; D 165-43; I 1-1, October 24, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3090, CQ Vote #403: Motion rejected 199-230: R 0-218; D 198-11; I 1-1, October 24, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3090, CQ Vote #404: Passed 216-214: R 212-7; D 3-206; I 1-1, October 24, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 3529, CQ Vote #508: Motion rejected 177-238: R 0-215; D 176-22; I 1-1, December 20, 2001, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 3529, CQ Vote #509: Passed 224-193: R 214-2; D 9-190; I 1-1, December 20, 2001, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 622, CQ Vote #38: Motion agreed to 225-199: R 214-1; D 10-197; I 1-1, February 14, 2002, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 586, CQ Vote #103: Motion agreed to 229-198: R 219-1; D 9-196; I 1-1, April 18, 2002, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2143, CQ Vote #218: Motion rejected 205-223: R 1-217; D 203-5; I 1-1, June 6, 2002, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2143, CQ Vote #219: Passed 256-171: R 214-4; D 41-166; I 1-1, June 6, 2002, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4019, CQ Vote #228: Rejected 198-213: R 1-207; D 196-5; I 1-1, June 13, 2002, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4019, CQ Vote #229: Passed 271-142: R 210-0; D 60-141; I 1-1, June 13, 2002, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #82: Adopted 215-212: R 214-12; D 1-199; I 0-1, March 21, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #141: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 216-211: R 216-7; D 0-203; I 0-1, April 11, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #180: Motion agreed to 222-202: R 222-0; D 0-201; I 0-1, May 9, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #181: Motion rejected 202-218: R 0-217; D 201-1; I 1-0, May 9, 2003, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #182: Passed 222-203: R 218-3; D 4-199; I 0-1, May 9, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2, CQ Vote #225: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 231-200: R 224-1; D 7-198; I 0-1, May 23, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote # 287: Rejected 188-239: R 2-226; D 185-13; I 1-0, June 18, 2003, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #288: Passed 264-163: R 223-4; D 41-158; I 0-1, June 18, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 2555, CQ Vote #305: Motion agreed to 222-200: R 221-0; D 1-199; I 0-1, June 24, 2003, Brown voted Nay; H. Con. Res. 393, CQ Vote #89: Rejected 183-243: R 12-211; D 171-31; I 0-1, March 25, 2004, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4181, CQ Vote #136: Rejected 189-226: R 1-216; D 187-10; I 1-0, April 28, 2004, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4275, CQ Vote #169: Rejected 190-227: R 1-216; D 188-11; I 1-0, May 13, 2004, Brown voted Yea; H. Res. 685, CQ Vote #301: Rejected 184-230: R 2-217; D 181-13; I 1-0, June 24, 2004, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #82: Rejected 180-242: R 3-218; D 176-24; I 1-0, March 17, 2005, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #85: Rejected 134-292: R 1-225; D 132-67; I 1-0, March 17, 2005, Brown voted Yea; H. Con. Res. 95, CQ Vote #88: Adopted 218-214: R 218-12; D 0-201; I 0-1, March 17, 2005, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #101: Rejected 194-238: R 1-228; D 193-9; I 0-1, April 13, 2005, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 8, CQ Vote #102: Passed 272-162: R 230-1; D 42-160; I 0-1, April 13, 2005, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4297, CQ Vote #619: Rejected 192-239: R 2-226; D 189-13; I 1-0, December 8, 2005, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4297, CQ Vote #620: Motion rejected 193-235: R 0-226; D 192-9; I 1-0, December 8, 2005, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4297, CQ Vote #621: Passed 234-197: R 225-3; D 9-193; I 0-1, December 8, 2005, Brown voted Nay; H.R. 4297, CQ Vote #7: Motion rejected 185-207: R 8-204; D 176-3; I 1-0, February 8, 2006, Brown voted Yea; H.R. 4297, CQ Vote #74: Motion rejected 192-229: R 4-222; D 187-7; I 1-0, March 29, 2006, Brown voted Yea)

1999 Tax Relief Act

The Tax Cut Package Of 1999 That President Clinton Vetoed Would Have Reduced Income Tax Rates, Reduced The Marriage Penalty, And Gradually Eliminated The Estate Tax. “Vetoed by President Clinton, HR2488, a 10-year comprehensive tax cut package, called for a 1 percentage point reduction in all income tax rates over the next 10 years, a reduction of the tax code’s marriage penalty, gradual elimination of the estate tax and reduced tax rates for individuals on capital gains.” (“H.R. 2488,” CQ BillWatch, Introduced July 13, 1999)

The Tax Cuts Would Have Also Expand Education Savings Accounts. “Also, the bill would have expanded education savings accounts, which allow families to save for the costs of higher education in the same fashion as individual retirement accounts, or IRAs.” (“H.R. 2488,” CQ BillWatch, Introduced July 13, 1999)

IRA Contributions Limits Would Have Been Increased. “The annual limit on contributions to IRAs would gradually have been increased from $2,000 to $5,000, and the research and experimentation tax credit would have been extended for five years.” (“H.R. 2488,” CQ BillWatch, Introduced July 13, 1999)

Tax Cut Package Votes:

Brown Voted At Least TWICE Against Passing The 1999 Tax Relief Act:

Tax Cut Package – Passage. “Passage of the bill to reduce federal taxes by $792 billion over 10 years. The measure would reduce individual income tax rates by 10 percent over a 10-year period, contingent upon annual progress in reducing interest on the nation’s debt. It would reduce the ‘marriage penalty’ by increasing the standard deduction for married couples to double that for singles; cut the capital gains tax rate for individuals from 20 percent to 15 percent for property held for more than one year; gradually lower the corporate capital gains tax rate from 35 percent to 30 percent by 2005; reduce the estate and gift tax rates until they are completely eliminated in 2009; accelerate the phase-in of a 100 percent deduction for health insurance premiums for the self-employed, and allow all taxpayers to deduct health care and long-term care insurance if employers pay 50 percent or less of the premium; increase the annual contribution limit for Education Savings Accounts from $500 to $2,000 and permit tax-free withdrawals to pay for public and private elementary and secondary tuition and expenses.” (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #333: Passed 223-208: R 217-4; D 6-203; I 0-1, July 22, 1999, Brown voted Nay)

Tax Reconciliation – Conference Report. “Adoption of the conference report on the bill to reduce taxes by $792 billion over 10 years. The conference report would reduce each of the five income tax rates by 1 percentage point, phase out the estate tax, and raise the standard deduction available to taxpayers filing jointly from $7,200 to $8,600 gradually over five years. The conference report would reduce the capital gains tax rate from 10 percent and 20 percent to 8 percent and 18 percent effective Jan. 1, 1999.” (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #379: Adopted (thus sent to the Senate) 221-206: R 216-4; D 5-201; I 0-1, August 5, 1999, Brown voted Nay)

Brown Voted At Least FOUR Times To Reduce The Size Of The 1999 Tax Cut Proposal:

Tax Cut Package – Democratic Substitute. “Rangel, D-N.Y., substitute amendment to reduce taxes by $250 billion over ten years, and restrict the majority of the tax cuts from taking effect until there is a certification of Medicare and Social Security solvency. The amendment would accelerate the estate tax exclusion to $1 million beginning Jan. 1, 2000. The amendment would increase the family child tax credit by $250 for each child under age five. The substitute would provide about $25 billion for public school construction and modernization projects. The substitute would provide a non-refundable income tax credit for $1,000 for each individual with long-term health care needs in a household, as well as 100 percent deductibility for health insurance purchased by the self-employed. The substitute would create "Better America Bonds" for state and local governments and provide $1.9 billion in interest-free financing for acquiring undeveloped property and environmental remediation. The amendment would also permanently extend the research credit, the work opportunity tax credit, the welfare-to-work tax credit, and the brownfields tax incentive, all of which were scheduled to expire June 30.” (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #331: Rejected 173-258: R 1-220; D 171-38; I 1-0, July 22, 1999, Brown voted Yea)

Tax Cut Package – Recommit. “Tanner, D-Tenn., motion to recommit the bill to the Ways and Means Committee and report it back with an amendment to provide a net 10-year tax reduction of not more than 25 percent of the currently projected non-Social Security surpluses, and a provision that would make the tax reductions contingent on a certification by the director of the Office of Management and Budget that 100 percent of the Social Security surpluses and 50 percent of the non-Social Security surpluses are dedicated to reducing the National Debt.” (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #332: Motion rejected 211-220: R 1-220; D 209-0; I 1-0, July 22, 1999, Brown voted Yea)

Tax Reconciliation – Motion to Instruct. “Rangel, D-N.Y., motion to instruct the House conferees on the tax-reconciliation bill to limit the 10-year tax reduction in the bill to not more than 25 percent of the currently projected non-Social Security budget surplus.” (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #356: Motion rejected 205-213: R 0-212; D 204-1; I 1-0, August 2, 1999, Brown voted Yea)

Tax Reconciliation – Motion to Recommit. “Rangel, D-N.Y., motion to recommit the conference report to the conference committee with instructions to the House conferees to insist on preserving 100 percent of the Social Security surpluses for Social Security and devoting 50 percent of the non-Social Security surpluses to debt reduction by limiting the net tax reduction to no more than 25 percent of the currently projected non-Social Security surpluses and removing limited tax benefits as defined under the Line-Item Veto Act.” (H.R. 2488, CQ Vote #378: Motion rejected 205-221: R 0-218; D 204-3; I 1-0, August 5, 1999, Brown voted Yea)

Votes On The Budget Resolution Outlining The 1999 Tax Relief Proposal:

Brown Voted At Least THREE Times Against The Budget Resolution Outlining The 1999 Tax Relief Proposal:

Fiscal 2000 Budget Resolution – Democratic Substitute. “Spratt, D-S.C., substitute amendment that provides for no new net tax cuts or net new spending until legislation is enacted that addresses the solvency of the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds. The Spratt substitute calls for saving all of the surplus -- both the Social Security surplus and the non-Social Security surplus -- until the issue of Medicare and Social Security solvency is addressed. After solvency for these programs is extended, the substitute calls for more discretionary funding for non-defense programs than the resolution, and provides for net tax cuts of $116 billion over ten years.” (H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #76: Rejected 173-250: R 0-216; D 173-33; I 0-1, March 25, 1999, Brown voted Yea)

Fiscal 2000 Budget Resolution – Adoption. “Adoption of the resolution to set broad spending and revenue targets for the next ten years. The resolution calls for cutting taxes by $778.5 billion over ten years, declares all Social Security revenues off-limits for other uses, and calls for increases in defense and education. Because the budget resolution proposes to stay within the existing caps on discretionary spending, it would require the Appropriations Committee to make significant cuts in non-defense discretionary spending from the fiscal 1999 funding levels.” (H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #77: Adopted 221-208: R 217-2; D 4-205; I 0-1, March 25, 1999, Brown voted Nay)

Fiscal 2000 Budget Resolution – Conference Report. “Adoption of the conference report on the concurrent resolution to set broad spending and revenue targets for the next 10 years. Like both the House and Senate versions, the agreement represents the Republicans’ plan to reserve the surpluses in the Social Security program from other uses, provide substantial tax cuts over the next 10 years, increase defense and education spending, while staying within the spending caps set in 1997. The conference agreement sets non-defense discretionary spending for fiscal 2000 at $43.7 billion less than in fiscal 1999, while defense spending would be $13.7 billion more than the current level.” (H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #85: Adopted 220-208: R 217-3; D 3-204; I 0-1, April 14, 1999, Brown voted Nay)

Brown Also Voted To Delay The Tax Cuts As Long As Possible:

Fiscal 2000 Budget Resolution – Motion to Instruct. “Spratt, D-S.C. motion to instruct the House conferees to insist that the reconciliation bills necessary to implement tax cuts outlined in the resolution be enacted as late as possible in order to give Congress time to enact bills to extend the solvency of Medicare and Social Security.” (H. Con. Res. 68, CQ Vote #80: Motion agreed to 349-44: R 161-44; D 187-0; I 1-0, April 12, 1999, Brown voted Yea)