(crossposted at BlueGrassRoots)

So Mitch, you plan on painting the Democrats in 2008 as tax and spend liberals? Better scrap that.

As the DSCC notes today, Mitch McConnell voted against legislation that would have allowed 250,000 Kentuckians to avoid paying the Alternative Minimum Tax. Bush has expanded the AMT to more and more people during his tenure, and now Mitch McConnell has decided to block the Democrats effort to reverse this trend. Well, I guess all those earmarks you hand out to your campaign donors have to come from somewhere, eh? From the DSCC:

Insisting on Partisanship over Progress, Senator Obstructs AMT Relief

Mitch McConnell today voted against tax relief for middle class families, objecting to a bill which would have prevented almost a quarter of a million Kentuckians from being forced to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).  The legislation would provide AMT relief for 23 million American families, and included tax credits for college tuition, tax relief for members of the armed forces, and deductions for school teachers buying supplies for their classrooms out of their own pockets.  As he has time and time again this year, McConnell led his party in voting to block the measure.

"Mitch McConnell is always first in line to give tax breaks to special interests and big corporations, but when it comes to tax relief for middle class families, he's nowhere to be found," DSCC spokesman Matthew Miller said. "When thousands of Kentuckians find themselves subject to the AMT or see their tax returns delayed next year, they'll know exactly who to blame – Mitch McConnell.  By voting against this important tax relief for Kentucky families, McConnell showed today that his priorities are clearly in the wrong place."

McConnell Voted Against Providing AMT Relief to Nearly 250,000 KY Families. The bill McConnell blocked today would extend for one year relief for families that would be impacted by the alternative minimum tax. This relief would benefit 23 million American families, including 249,100 in Kentucky.  [Citizens for Tax Justice, 11/15/07]

McConnell Voted Against Extending Tuition Tax Credit That Benefits Over 35,000 KY Students and Families. The bill McConnell blocked today would extend for one year a federal higher education tuition tax credit that allows lower- and middle-class families paying for college to deduct up to $4,000. In 2003, 3.6 million Americans benefited from this tax cut, including 35,720 in Kentucky. [Democratic Policy Committee, 9/26/06]

McConnell Voted Against Extending Deduction for Teachers' Out of Pocket Expenses That Benefits Over 37,000 KY Educators.  The bill McConnell blocked today would extend for one year a federal provision that allows school teachers to deduct up to $250 a year for money that they spend out of their own pockets to buy supplies for their classrooms. In 2003, 3.3 million Americans benefited from this tax cut, including 37,778 in Kentucky. [Democratic Policy Committee, 9/26/06]

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