Nelson raps Ricketts on tax reform
Sen. Ben Nelson said Monday that Pete Ricketts favors tax reforms that would lead to higher home prices and increased taxes for 95 percent of Nebraskans.
A national sales tax, which Nelson said Ricketts has promoted, would be accompanied by elimination of mortgage interest deductions for homeowners under the current income tax system, the senator said.
That, he said, would increase the cost of a new home by 30 percent.
While most Nebraskans’ taxes would rise, the Democratic senator said, the wealthiest individuals who earn more than $700,000 a year would enjoy an average $176,000 tax cut.
Ricketts, the Republican Senate challenger, has denied he advocated such a change. Rather, he said, it was one of a number of options that he suggested be considered in reforming the current federal income tax system.
“Ben Nelson has already had one news conference this month telling this same lie,” Ricketts campaign manager Jessica Moenning said.
“He must be desperate to take attention away from the fact that as governor he broke his campaign promise and voted to raise property valuations (in) more than 20 counties,” she said.
Nelson has “repeatedly distorted my position on tax reform,” Ricketts said.
“Pete Ricketts has said he will work to lower taxes and streamline the tax code and is willing to have an honest discussion on the issue and examine all proposals,” his campaign stated.
“When I look at his words,” Nelson responded, “it sounds more like advocacy when you say (a national sales tax) is a fair tax, as he did.
“I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to walk away from that,” Nelson said in a telephone interview. “But it’s too late. He advocated it.”
Nelson held a news conference in Omaha with a pair of homebuilders to argue that the “Ricketts national sales tax” would devastate the real estate industry.
Looking at Ricketts’ recent protest of the Douglas County assessor’s valuation of his $1.2 million Omaha home and the impact of a national sales tax plan, Nelson suggested he sees “a pattern here.”
“It appears to me he wants to pay less by having other people pay more,” Nelson said. “His proposal is not tax relief; it’s a tax shift.”
In contrast, Nelson said, he’s voted for six major tax cuts in the Senate that lowered taxes for 650,000 Nebraskans.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
A national sales tax, which Nelson said Ricketts has promoted, would be accompanied by elimination of mortgage interest deductions for homeowners under the current income tax system, the senator said.
That, he said, would increase the cost of a new home by 30 percent.
While most Nebraskans’ taxes would rise, the Democratic senator said, the wealthiest individuals who earn more than $700,000 a year would enjoy an average $176,000 tax cut.
Ricketts, the Republican Senate challenger, has denied he advocated such a change. Rather, he said, it was one of a number of options that he suggested be considered in reforming the current federal income tax system.
“Ben Nelson has already had one news conference this month telling this same lie,” Ricketts campaign manager Jessica Moenning said.
“He must be desperate to take attention away from the fact that as governor he broke his campaign promise and voted to raise property valuations (in) more than 20 counties,” she said.
Nelson has “repeatedly distorted my position on tax reform,” Ricketts said.
“Pete Ricketts has said he will work to lower taxes and streamline the tax code and is willing to have an honest discussion on the issue and examine all proposals,” his campaign stated.
“When I look at his words,” Nelson responded, “it sounds more like advocacy when you say (a national sales tax) is a fair tax, as he did.
“I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to walk away from that,” Nelson said in a telephone interview. “But it’s too late. He advocated it.”
Nelson held a news conference in Omaha with a pair of homebuilders to argue that the “Ricketts national sales tax” would devastate the real estate industry.
Looking at Ricketts’ recent protest of the Douglas County assessor’s valuation of his $1.2 million Omaha home and the impact of a national sales tax plan, Nelson suggested he sees “a pattern here.”
“It appears to me he wants to pay less by having other people pay more,” Nelson said. “His proposal is not tax relief; it’s a tax shift.”
In contrast, Nelson said, he’s voted for six major tax cuts in the Senate that lowered taxes for 650,000 Nebraskans.
Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.
Copyright © 2002-2009 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.