U.S. Senate candidate Ed Bryant visits ETSU

By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com

   Saturday morning United States Senate GOP candidate Congressman Ed Bryant spoke about his stance on taxes at the Sam Wilson Hall on the campus of East Tennessee State University. Bryant spoke openly about the actions he would take if elected governor, and distanced himself from fellow Republican candidate Lamar Alexander.
   Bryant took the opportunity to tell East Tennessee voters of Alexander's support of a state income tax. Bryant also stated that he believed Alexander to have a record as a tax-increasing governor. "The fact is, Lamar Alexander advocated a state income tax and he increased the tax burden on Tennessee taxpayers substantially. I think Tennesseans are taxed enough already. During my four terms in Congress, I've been fighting for less taxes and more tax relief," Bryant said. "When it comes to the issue of taxes, my record could not be more clear. I have fought for tax relief and tax reductions during my four terms in Congress, and I'm doing everything I can to put my proven, conservative record on taxes to work for Tennessee in the U.S. Senate."
   While campaigning in the Johnson City area, Bryant discussed his own Congressional tax record. "I've fought for a cut in the capital gains tax. I've fought for allowing workers to make higher contribution limits to their individual retirement accounts. I've fought for child tax credits," Bryant said. "I helped President Bush fight for a new 10 percent tax bracket. I helped President Bush fight for lower rates throughout the tax code. I helped President Bush fight for an end to the marriage penalty. I helped President Bush fight for ending the death tax. On all of these important tax issues, we have won for taxpayers."
   Bryant sought to outline his record on taxes and explain his differences from Alexander's. "It is important for people to know that Governor Alexander advocated for a state income tax," Bryant said.