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Obama, McCain Push Economic Plans Ahead of Debate

HeadlineOct 15, 2008

Campaigning in Ohio, Senator Barack Obama said he supported the latest banking bailout plan but with reservations.

Sen. Barack Obama: “I am concerned that — in the way that they structure this new mechanism. That we are cracking down on excessive CEO pay, that, I think, should be part of the deal. And I’m also concerned that taxpayers’ shares that they’re purchasing or they’re receiving as a consequence of this injection of equity is a good deal for taxpayers. I think that if taxpayers invest in Goldman Sachs, they shouldn’t get a worse deal than when Warren Buffett invests in Goldman Sachs.”

Obama and Republican rival Senator John McCain meet tonight at New York’s Hofstra University for their third and final debate. McCain unveiled new economic proposals at a campaign stop Tuesday in Pennsylvania.

Sen. John McCain: “We should also not penalize Americans who are forced to sell investments in today’s tough markets. I will increase the amount of capital losses from $3,000 to $15,000, which can be deducted from your ordinary income in tax years 2008 and 2009. And we will reduce the federal business tax rate from 35 percent — the second-highest in the world — to 25 percent. I’m also proposing today that for those who are between jobs, we eliminate all taxes on unemployment benefits. It is unclear to me why the government taxes money it has just sent you.”

McCain’s new tax breaks amount to $52 billion. Obama unveiled his own new economic proposals on Monday, a $60 billion plan that includes a ninety-day moratorium on most home foreclosures.

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