Ryan used wrong figure for tax break

A report actually states that $40,000 earners will get $391, not $153.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, who voted against a $550 billion tax-cut plan, has repeatedly used an incorrect figure for what the proposal would mean to a household with a $40,000 annual income.
The wrong figure being used by Ryan, D-17th, to criticize the tax cut plan makes it appear as though households with an annual income of $40,000 would receive less than half of what a Democratic report states they would actually get.
Ryan, of Niles, issued a press release with the incorrect figure (as well as the correct figure on the same page), then repeated the wrong figure to The Vindicator, and on WKBN-AM radio.
Report
At Ryan's request, the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform's Democratic staff compiled a report showing the benefits of the proposed $550 billion tax cut proposal to residents of the 17th Congressional District. The district includes portions of Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage and Summit counties.
Households with $40,000 annual incomes in the district, according to the six-page Democratic report, would receive a $391 tax cut, while those making under $40,000 would receive $153 under the plan approved last week by the U.S. House in a party-line vote. Those making more than $200,000 annually make up 1 percent of the district's households, and will receive an average tax cut of $12,000 annually, the report states.
Even so, Ryan repeatedly has said those making $40,000 annually will receive only a $153 tax cut.
Ryan has criticized the tax cut as primarily benefiting the rich, and says he favors a payroll tax cut that would help lower and middle-class people and small business.
Pat Lowry, his spokesman, acknowledged that Ryan had unintentionally mentioned the wrong figure.
Ryan also mistakenly said on the radio that the report was compiled by the unbiased Congressional Budget Office when it was actually put together by the House Committee on Government Reform's Democratic staff.
Melissa Merson, CBO spokeswoman, said the office doesn't do reports on individual congressional districts.
"We do general economic stuff about reconciliation and different bills Congress does, but nothing specific to one congressional district," she said. "No way we'd be able to do that."
House Republicans contend the average American household would receive a tax break of more than $1,000 under the tax cut package.
The U.S. House approved a $550 billion tax cut last week. Bush had originally proposed a $726 billion tax cut, but has since supported the House version.
The Senate is considering a $350 billion tax cut -- primarily because of two Republican holdouts -- including an Ohio senator, George Voinovich, who refuse to endorse a $550 billion tax cut.
Ryan said he expects the House and Senate to work out a compromise of about $400 billion to $450 billion in conference.