DU accountants - did Bush keep his campaign promise?

[JPJones]

"The facts are after my plan, the wealthiest of Americans pay more taxes of the percentage of the whole than they do today. Secondly, if you're a family of four making $50,000 in Massachusetts, you get a 50% tax cut."

"Let me give you one example. A family in Allentown, Pennsylvania, I campaigned with them the other day. They make $51,000 combined income, they pay about $3500 in taxes. Under my plan, they get $1800 of tax relief."

According to the 2000 tax tables, $3500 meant a taxable income of $23,350.

A taxable income of $23,350 in 2003 was $2836. But the child deductions increased, right?

[NewJeffCT]

1. It's too early for me now, but...

But, if Bush is counting purely income taxes he may be correct. The problem is that he is not counting the regressive payroll tax and any increases that state & local governments had to inflict on their citizens - how many of us have gotten progressively lower property tax bills the past few years? I'm guessing about none. This is also on top of health care costs, energy costs & college costs rising much faster than wages.