Rep. Bill Owens
/ file photo
SYRACUSE -- Congressman Bill Owens says "there's no evidence cutting taxes actually creates jobs."
The 23rd Congressional District Democrat was responding to a question posed by CNY Central's Jim Kenyon, who asked him about Republican opposition to raising taxes on wealthier Americans. "That mantra has been going on for quite a while." Owens responded, "It's pretty clear we cut taxes in the Bush administration and that jobs actually disappeared. They did not grow. So there's no evidence cutting taxes actually creates jobs."
Owens says he favors a "fair tax system that has everyone paying their fair share."
Owens says he doesn't know exactly what to expect when the 23rd Congressional District is redrawn to comply with the recent census. He says it must expand by 50,000 people and "grow to the south" but is not certain whether he will represent some residents who live in Onondaga County.
Owens feels he will be re-elected because he says people are "fed up" with the polarization in Washington. "I present a very moderate approach to politics, one that really focuses on trying to build consensus."
When asked about President Obama's $450 billion jobs plan, Owens says he favors that portion that would rebuild the nation's infrastructure. "When you're doing infrastructure, roads, bridges, broadband, railroads, you're getting people to work. They're buying steel. They're buying asphalt. They're doing things that help us create demand."
Owens says he wishes the President had proposed spending more than $48 billion for infrastructure.
Is Owens right when he says there's no evidence cutting taxes creates jobs? Leave your comments below.
