Opens in a new tab

Different tax policy roads to same goal

August 21, 2008

Apparently Barack Obama and John McCain are like the hubby and me. At least when we travel.

Exploring the Outdoors

When we head out on the road, I’m the titular navigator, although the hubby already has plotted the course and basically knows how he’s going to get us to our destination. But I still hold the map — that’s right, we’re a GPS-free family — and I make suggestions.

We both want to get to the same place. We agree on the basic method to get there. But each of us has our own preferred route.

That seems to be the same process that the two presidential candidates take when it comes to tax policy.

Robert Carroll, vice president for economic policy at the Tax Foundation, has taken a look at the tax relief proposals of McCain and Obama. Both candidates have been using the issues of health care, gas prices and housing devaluation, among others, to preface their economic proposals.

But, explains Carroll in Fiscal Fact No. 137,  the candidates have significantly different tax policies that address these issues.

"Sen. Obama has included a set of carefully targeted tax proposals that narrowly aim benefits to specific types of taxpayers, while Sen. McCain provides broad tax relief with benefits that are indirect," says Carroll. "In both cases, tax relief is provided to the vast majority of the electorate."

You can read Carroll’s analysis here, download the PDF here and find out more on the candidates’ tax plans here.

Share:

The More Tax Posts tab at the top of this page will take you to, well, more tax posts. You also can search below for a tax topic. 

Latest Posts
IRS sending refunds to families that claimed adoption tax credit carryforwards

October 18, 2026

Tax reform changes to the adoption tax credit meant some families didn’t get the new…

Read More
TAX-SAVVY WAYS 
TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
Leave the first comment