Talkers Talk Taxes, Economy With Summit Delegates
6/18/2004
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| Phil Valentine Host of the “Phil Valentine Show” |
One of the highlights of the 2002 Summit, Friday morning’s radio panel covered topics like taxes, voter participation and the current state of the economy.
Panelist Jim Blasingame, creator and host of “The Small Business Advocate,” voiced his optimistic view of the economy and praised small business for propelling the strengthening economy.
“The economy does well because of your efforts,” Blasingame said.
Other members of the panel included:
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Ellen Ratner, White House correspondent and bureau chief of the Talk Radio News Service
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Jim Bohannon, member of the Radio Hall of Fame and host of “America in the Morning”
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Les Kingsolver, a Baltimore talk show host
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Doug Stephan, host of a syndicated show out of Massachusetts
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Phil Valentine, host of the “Phil Valentine Show”
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Armstrong Williams, a syndicated host and regular contributor to broadcast television shows
Moderator Michael Harrison, editor and publisher of Talkers Magazine, kept panelists at bay when the discussion turned to taxes.
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| Ellen Ratner White House correspondent and bureau chief of the Talk Radio News Service |
“When you soak the rich, everyone gets wet,” Valentine said. “We need lower taxes and we need them now.”
Ratner disagreed, saying the highest wage earners need to be taxed more in order to fund government programs like education.
HR 4520, a corporate tax bill, includes a measure that will allow taxpayers who itemize to deduct either their state sales tax or their state income tax from their federal income tax -- allowing residents of the seven states that currently have no state income tax to receive a federal deduction for their state taxes. To become law, the deduction must pass the Senate and be signed by President Bush.
