GOP's Gomez Faults Democrat Markey On Tax Record

Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Gabriel Gomez on Tuesday criticized what he said is Democrat Edward Markey's penchant for pushing for higher taxes, rather than spending cuts.

Gomez pointed to Markey's backing of an increase in the federal gas tax by 4.3 cents per gallon in 1993 and Markey's opposition to a 2004 bill that would have doubled the child tax credit to $1,000.

Gomez said Markey, who has served in the U.S. House for more than three decades, is taking a top-down approach instead of growing the economy "from the bottom up."

At a campaign stop in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood, Gomez said he would not take a no-new-taxes pledge, but he did call for comprehensive tax reform, including closing corporate tax and personal tax loopholes while also lowering the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to under 30 percent.

"What's best for America is to reduce taxes and the way we're going to do that is through comprehensive tax reform," Gomez said.

Markey spokesman Andrew Zucker said Markey has voted for more than a trillion dollars in tax cuts for small businesses, working families and the middle class and also fought to close corporate tax loopholes and end unnecessary deductions.

Zucker also knocked Gomez for subtracting more than $280,000 from his taxable income in exchange for giving up the right to change the facade of his Cohasset home, which local bylaws prevented anyway.

"Ed Markey will fight for real tax fairness, unlike Gabriel Gomez, who opposes asking the wealthy to pay their fair share," Zucker said.

Earlier Tuesday, Markey received President Obama's endorsement. In a statement, Obama called Markey "a passionate and effective champion for middle class and working families."

Obama said Markey has a strong record of helping businesses create jobs and his work on fuel economy standards will save money for consumers and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Obama said he also supports Markey's efforts to reduce gun violence.

The June 25 election will fill the seat left vacant after John Kerry resigned to become secretary of state.