For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010

COUNTDOWN TO CHANGE TOUR BEGINS WITH EARLY VOTING
Halter volunteers at food bank while Lincoln supports
$80 billion in tax breaks for people with $10 million or more

Texarkana – Campaigning on the first day of early voting in the runoff, Lt. Gov. Bill Halter began his “Countdown to Change” tour by visiting El Dorado, Camden, Magnolia and Texarkana, where he volunteered at a local food bank and discussed Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s support for giving $80 billion in tax breaks for people who have more than $10 million.

“Sen. Lincoln is out of touch if she thinks we can afford to give out an $80 billion tax break to people who have more than $10 million,” said Lt. Gov. Halter. “When I’m your Senator, helping the middle class will always come first.”

In a recent press conference, Sen. Lincoln falsely claimed that Lt. Gov. Halter has not been forthcoming on his opposition to this $80-billion tax break for multimillionaires. “Where would he be on estate tax? I think he said a little bit about that. I don’t know,” said Sen. Lincoln. (at 6:20, here)

“That’s just not true,” said Carol Butler, campaign manager for Lt. Gov. Halter. “In fact, he said it to her in their last debate.”

In the May 14 debate at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock, Lt. Gov. Halter forcefully opposed her proposed tax breaks, saying, “The last thing we need right now with a $1.4 trillion dollar deficit is to provide another tax cut for the wealthy.” (Politico, May 14, 2010)

In a May 10 campaign stop in Ft. Smith, Lt. Gov. Halter said, "Folks, we don't need more tax breaks for people with $10 million in wealth, especially at the expense of debt or deficits on the backs of your children and grandchildren.” (Times Record, May 11, 2010)

In 2001, Sen. Lincoln was one of just nine Senate Democrats to vote for permanent repeal of the estate tax. (2002 CQ Almanac, page C-22, Senate Vote #151 on 6/12/02)

In 2001, Sen. Lincoln was one of just seven Senate Democrats to vote against increasing the tax deduction for college tuition by slowing the reduction of the estate tax rate. (2001 CQ Almanac, page S-28; Senate Vote #114 on 5/17/01)