They cannot just declare their support for tax cuts and expect hungry voters to react as if they are being thrown red meat. Bartlett accuses congressional leaders of incompetence in handling last year's tax bill. The surging stock market has raised the net worth of many Americans, yet much of it remains untaxed, either in retirement accounts or unrealized capital gains. The tax structure has changed. Many voters doubt they'll see tax cuts, either because the breaks are targeted at someone else or the benefit will be lost to higher state or local taxes.
People are concerned about national debt.
After years of hearing conservatives fret about government borrowing, many people want to devote federal surpluses to pay down debt rather than cut taxes. And the looming insolvency of Social Security has emerged as a competitor for surplus dollars. Grover Norquist, president of the pro-cut group Americans for Tax Reform, says it all comes down to political power. He says if Republicans can win the White House while keeping congressional majorities, tax cuts will be enacted, and the public will like them. Stan Collender, head of the Federal Budget Consulting Group, says the economy has changed everything.