Brief The Answer Isn't Capital Gains
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Leonard E. Burman
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(Houston Chronicle) Even before the ruins of the World Trade Towers stop smoldering, Congressional leaders are quietly planning to revive their favorite scheme to boost the economya $20 billion plus cut in capital gains taxes, possibly as an add-on to minimum wage legislation. Proponents, led by Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, claim that a temporary cut in the already low tax rate on profits would both raise revenues and stimulate spending and investment. That's nonsense. While a capital gains tax cut would surely boost the bank accounts of the wealthy, it would not revive our flagging economy and might further destabilize the skittering stock market.