PRESS RELEASE--NC-11 Candidate Carl Mumpower

11^th District Congressional Candidate on Democrats Proposed War Tax

Top House Democrats proposed a "war surtax" on Tuesday to pay for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, a plan quickly condemned by Republicans and opposed by House leadership. The surtax would be "a percentage of your tax bill," said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey, D-Wisconsin. "And if you don't like the cost, then shut down the war." The measure (sponsored by Obey, Rep. Jack Murtha, D-Pennsylvania, and Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts) would require low- and middle-income taxpayers to add 2 percent to their tax bill, while higher-income taxpayers would add 12 to 15 percent, Obey said. Announced Republican challenger for Democrat Heath Shuler's 11^th District seat, Carl Mumpower, validated the proposal as "higher level thinking“ should the same standard be applied to Democrat entitlement initiatives. "I think we would all like the option of directly challenging Washington waste when we don't like the cost", shared Mumpower. Highlighting that annual congressional spending has increased to $24,106 per American household, Mumpower noted "Selective calls for tax dollar accountability ring a little hollow from two parties equally willing to borrow on tomorrow for the special interests of today."