Guiliani goes after Huckabee on taxes...

[SaveElmer]

Guiliani seems to have accurately located Huckabee's soft underbelly. This issue is not something Huckabee can win on.

Giuliani Assails Huckabee on Taxes

Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani criticized the "fair tax'' proposal of rival candidate Mike Huckabee on Monday, saying it could hurt home buyers.

By MIKE BAKER, Associated Press Writer


GREENSBORO, N.C. - Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani criticized the "fair tax'' proposal of rival candidate Mike Huckabee on Monday, saying it could hurt home buyers.

The former New York City mayor cited the struggling U.S. housing market as a reason to avoid the plan, which would eliminate all taxes on income and investments in favor of a hefty federal sales tax.

"I think there are several tax deductions that are vital to our economy,'' Giuliani said. "This would not be a good time - I don't know if there would ever be a good time to do this - to advocate ending the home mortgage deduction. The home mortgage deduction is considered by many critical to the ability of people to buy a home and keep their home.''

He also said deductions for charitable contributions and state and local taxes were important tax breaks that Huckabee's plan would eliminate. The plan calls for getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service and giving taxpayers a monthly rebate on taxes on purchases up to the poverty line.

"Why waste our time trying to do this if we can't actually accomplish it?'' Giuliani said. "I try to put my time into things that we can actually accomplish.''

http://www.startribune.com/10215/story/1588630.html

[DemKR]

1. I thought Mack Huckerbee and Ghouliani were friends :( wah

[skipos]

2. And so it begins. No one has been attacking Huckabee until now. nt