April 14, 2008 - 4:36pm

News

Daskas pitches middle-class tax relief in first major policy speech

LAS VEGAS-3rd District Congressional candidate Robert Daskas gave his first major policy speech Monday, outlining his tax plans on the day before the tax filing deadline. Daskas' plan focuses on extending most of President Bush's tax cuts for middle class families while expanding child and dependent care tax credits and extending tuition tax deductions.

In his roughly seven minute speech, Daskas named incumbent Congressman Jon Porter and Bush together in the same sentence five times, previewing a likely strategy to connect Porter to the unpopular president. Daskas was combative about Porter's record in congress, arguing that Porter's priorities were not helping the majority of the people in his southern Nevada district.

"George Bush and Jon Porter have shifted the tax burden to Nevada families in order to give these huge tax cuts to special interests, to their supporters and to their contributors," said Daskas. "They've cut taxes for oil companies while those oil companies make record profits. They provide tax breaks to corporations who ship jobs overseas."

"Bush and Porter also gave the wealthiest one percent of Americans half a trillion dollars in tax cuts," said Daskas. "50 percent of the tax cuts go to the wealthiest one percent of Americans. The priorities in Washington D.C. are simply all wrong."

Daskas pledged to repeal tax subsidies for oil companies, use federal revenue to invest in renewable energy, remove tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and cut taxes on middle class Americans. Elements of his plan include:

Expanding child and dependent care tax credits,
Extending the tuition tax deduction,
Providing homeownership tax deductions,
Preserving state and local sales tax deductions,
Fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax,
Allowing military families to include combat pay in their earned income for the purposes of the earned income tax credit, and
Offering tax credits for small businesses that provide health insurance

Taking reporters' questions following his speech, Daskas brushed aside the suggestion that by making his first major policy speech about tax policy, he was seeking to get out ahead of his primary opponent, certified public accountant Andrew Martin.

"The timing has to do with the fact that tax day is tomorrow and nothing to do with Andrew Martin being in this race," said Daskas. "It doesn't take an accountant; it takes a taxpayer to know what's fair and what's not fair. I certainly would take issue with the notion that because he's an accountant, somehow he can better represent Nevadans."

Asked if Martin's recent attacks were setting the stage for an acrimonious primary campaign, Daskas replied that his "concern was getting my message out to the voters to provide a contrast between Jon Porter and me" and took a veiled shot at Martin, who moved to the Las Vegas Valley from Washington D.C. in 2005.

"In terms of Andrew Martin, as I've said before, I was raised in this community. My wife and I are raising our young kids in this community. I'm the product of public schools in this community and I've devoted the last twelve years of my life to public service in this community. I invite anyone to compare me to Andrew Martin or even Jon Porter in those regards."

Daskas said he would not support raising capital gains taxes and that he would support letting Bush's tax cuts expire for those making over $1.5 million per year. He also discussed Porter's recent moderation in his voting record, saying that voters "aren't sure what to expect from Jon Porter now."

"Historically he's voted with the Bush administration close to 90 percent of the time and in the past year we've seen him moderate his votes," said Daskas. "That causes me concern, because if he were reelected, which Jon Porter would the voters get?"

"My guess is, if he feels politically safe, we're going to get the old Jon Porter. As a voter, as a constituent, as someone who lives in CD3, that causes me concern."

With Nevada facing one of the worst home foreclosure situations in the country, Daskas said he would favor prosecuting mortgage brokers who intentionally filed fraudulent documents for home buyers.

On Iraq, Daskas said he supports beginning to bring troops home immediately, but didn't believe it was proper to provide a "precise date" for withdrawal.

"The ‘surge' certainly has worked militarily," said Daskas. "But, the stated objective of the surge was to provide reconciliation and it hasn't happened, so I'm in favor of beginning to bring our troops home now."

Daskas said he is not in favor of cutting off funding for troops in Iraq to force the president to bring them home and that he would not take military action against Iran "off the table" if the next president pushes a use of force resolution against them.

Daskas also discussed proposals for universal health care, saying he did not support "socialized medicine."

"What I'm in favor of is affordable, accessible health care for every American. I'm not talking about socialized medicine, I'm not talking about a single-payer system and I'm not talking about mandates. I do not support mandates."

To bring health care costs down, Daskas said he supported allowing Americans to buy into the health insurance program used by members of congress, investing in preventive care, allowing the re-importation of prescription drugs from countries like Canada and allowing the federal government to negotiate with prescription drug companies to reduce costs.

On the ongoing Democratic nomination struggle, Daskas said the current lack of a Democratic presidential nominee would not "ultimately hurt the Democratic nominee" and said he believed it would be improper if superdelegates determined the nomination.

"The nominee should be a reflection of what the voters want," said Daskas. "We shouldn't elect a nominee or anyone who happens to get the superdelegates, but not the popular vote."

JOSEPH K. COOPER can be reached via email at joseph.cooper@politickernv.com.

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Comments

How about that

posted by Edgenity

All of a sudden, Daskas starts to discuss issues - that may happen when you have a serious primary opponent with over $200,000 sitting in the bank.

I've lived in Nevada for the last 8 years, graduating from UNLV and as someone who has worked in Clark County Government for the past 4 years I study every race and I'm proud to support Andrew Martin for Congress this year. He is the anti-machine candidate who can't be bosses and he is NOT FOR SALE. If I weren't a county employee, I'd donate to him but he will get my vote.

04/14/08 10:39 pm

wow... it's about time he crafted something semi-intelligent

posted by politickedoff

I just don't understand why Daskas would make his first speech about TAX POLICY... what a dumb move. Andrew Martin obviously owns this issue, and Daskas is an idiot to even remotely try to address it.

Granted, it's a very welcome time for Daskas to finally start talking about the issues. All of these months that Andrew Martin has been going to democratic gatherings, clubs, and meetings in the 3rd district talking about these issues, Daskas has spent crafting this first issue speech.

Despite Daskas' noble FIRST attempt at addressing policy, Andrew Martin clearly owns the issues, hands down!

04/14/08 11:19 pm

SHAME ON YOU DASKAS for

posted by concious voter

SHAME ON YOU DASKAS for saying you want an immediate withdrawl, then saying you wouldn't cut off funding. You CAN'T have your cake & eat it too! You will have the power in Congress to help end this war PLEASE BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

04/15/08 1:33 am

You Martin people are just

posted by Stop it

You Martin people are just as bad as Ron Paul supporters. God stop.

04/15/08 3:03 am

I'm still undecided. I enjoy

posted by In The Middle

I'm still undecided. I enjoy watching from the fence. Although I've noticed most Daskas supporters think they have the right to tell others who they should support & how. A word of advice STOP, it doesn't make you look good. Especially when you are blogging at 3 AM. Both sides should continue the discussion it is democratic & healthy but remain mature it will help your side. Nobody likes a poor sport.

04/15/08 11:30 am

Are you people serious?

posted by TommyMarion

Okay Martin supporters, time to chill out just a little bit. What's with all the hate? You're getting your little primary, Daskas actually acknowledged your candidate exists (something a lot of candidates wouldn't do at this stage).

I mean, if you really feel all "let the voters decide" and "there are two candidates in this race," then you need to let Daskas campaign, too.

Geeze, I'll bet you're all Gravel and Kucinich supporters too, getting all mad because the voters chose Clinton and Obama.

04/15/08 12:09 pm

Martin makes the same mistake as McCain

posted by Informed voter

Martin has conflated Iran with Al Qaeda and said he was worried about Iran obtaining nukes and sharing them with Al Qaeda. News Flash: Iran is mostly Shi'ia. Al Qaeda is a fundementalist Sunni sect. They do not collaborate. Most of the current violence in Iraq is a civil war: battling Shi'ia sects and score-settling from the years of Sunni dominance. Al Qaeda in Iraq is at best a distant franchise and comprises a small percentage of attacks. Iran and Iraq fought each other for 10 years. News Flash 2: Iran is very far from developing nuclear weapons and poses no threat to the United States or the region. To suggest otherwise is McCain-level warmongering. The remnants of Al Qaeda are in the mountainous Pakistani-Afghani border.
Martin may not be for sale, but it sure looks like he is trying to buy a seat in Congress. It is pathetic that he has only five or six donors who actually, you know, live in Nevada.
Um, it is withdrawal, not withdrawl. Common mistake.

04/15/08 1:28 pm

They are serious

posted by Can't we all just get along

What hate? The Martin campaign has been honest in it's press releases and campaign. It isn't a little primary. It is a real primary the first one this seat has ever had.

The Martin campaign is trying to play fair and not planting people on the blogs to spread lies and rumors like the Daskas campaign apparently has been doing.

The Martin campaign wants to keep the tone civil and talk about the issues.

Mr. Martin has publicly endorsed Obama for President by the way.

04/16/08 1:27 pm

Honest in its press releases?

posted by TommyMarion

http://www.politickernv.com/jkcooper/1199/martin-apologizes-daskas-camp-...

"Earlier this week, Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Andrew Martin apologized to Robert Daskas, the other Democrat in the race, over the phone for a "mistake" in a press release last weekend attacking Daskas' performance at a Carpenters' Union endorsement meeting in late March, according to Martin spokesperson Vin Gopal."

Keep the tone civil?

How about accusing Daskas of being beholden to the Washington D.C. special interests? What about attacking Daskas because he's actually gotten the support of Shelley Berkley, Dina Titus, and Harry Reid?

Andrew Martin was sitting in D.C. three years ago, shopping around for a district to run in. He settled on this one, moved out here, and is now trying to buy a seat.

Planting people on the blogs? Really? Every Martin or Daskas article I've seen on this site has had three or four "I love Andrew Martin comments" up within hours of posting. Me thinks the lady doth protest a bit too much.

Finally, I haven't seen a single story on this site, in the R-J, in the Sun, anywhere where Daskas has attacked Martin. It looks like Martin has hired people just do that to Daskas, though. I'm in favor of Democrats getting along, but attacking a primary opponent the way Martin's doing is no way to make it happen.

04/16/08 2:23 pm

DEBATE!

posted by you know it already

Why don't we leave the debating to the candidates.
They both seem smart enough.
Let's let them debate let them hash it out.
Why do people always like to debate for the candidate.
LET THEM DEBATE!

04/21/08 1:27 am

Is Robert Daskas's wife

posted by blogger

Is Robert Daskas's wife really a Republican??????? Is that why she is never with him in public? Does anyone know?

04/21/08 1:44 am

Martin cannot beat Porter

posted by CD3voter

Robert's wife and two children have been with him at all or most campaign events evenings and weekends. I didn't ask her party affiliation since she isn't running.

We must have Daskas to win this one. Hell Porter hung the "carpetbagger" smear on third generation Tessa Hafen. Martin is listed as current BOD President for his Beekman Place condo in D.C. and ALL of his work experience on his business web page is D.C. based and much of it is government work. If I can find that with Google I am guessing Porter might make it an issue.

If Martin EVER wants a political future in NV he should drop out now and make nice with the powers in NV Dems. If he wants to be shut out forever he should bring it on.

Martin is amateur hour and Porter would beat him up and then beat him down. We need to win this one.

04/21/08 7:15 pm

Just Stop PLEASE!

posted by Johnathan Abbinett

I've never met a nicer, more polite guy than Andrew Martin - and one that is sooo naive and grossly unprepared to run for the U.S. Congress!

Andrew Martin truly is a treasure trove of expertise on ONE SUBJECT - money! That's it, the guy has one inch of depth on other subjects - except taxes, taxes he knows well. Sorry, there a dozens of more important issues for a Congressman to know - like the cost of sweat, tears, blood, guts, limbs and lives!

Oh, yeah, like the difference between a Sunni, Shia and Kurd!

Andrew Martin is a nice guy, but he's just a successful accountant - well, woopee? He is just another rich guy, biting off more than he can chew, and trying to buy a political office.

At a recent event, Andrew Martin actually had the audacity to take exception to one of my comments - I was shocked at his inability to stick to the facts, and keep them in context, let alone respond in a logical manner - shocked!

Then, he had the audacity to try and tell me what I could and couldn't, or in his opinion, shouldn't write!

At that point I was seriously contemplating explaining the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to him (since, I find even some Democrats here in Nevada obviously don't get that one) - but, decided to respond politely with a simple question instead asking, "Andrew do you know who I am, and that I write a column and do a lot of commentary?" He did know my name, but had no idea that I write a regular column or how well I'm known in the Veteran's & Military Families community.

Again, it's kind of important to know when you're talking to a writer - it's really important to take the time to find out who the mainstream media reporters are too - and especially important to know who the poltical guys and gals are - before you open your mouth and insert your foot!

Then he added insult to injury by attempting to pander to me with his line about being "the first to sign-on in support of the new Veterans Bill of Rights" - PLEASE! I almost replied, "Tell me where did you actually SIGN that document?" But, it was all I could do to just say "You ARE joking aren't you?" You're making quite a stretch by giving lip service to a piece of legislation - and you want to score points with me for more lip service?"

At that point I directly asked, "Andrew have you even gone to a political seminar on how to prepare and run for office?" He stuttered, attempted to tap-dance around the question, muttered and then committed another big NO-NO by trying to answer my question with a question (MAKE A NOTE ANDREW: Never, EVER try that with a writer or reporter)! Finally, I got the straight answer - "No, he hadn't been to a single seminar on how to run for office, or how to put together a campaign staff, let alone how to build a field organization and Get Out The Vote drive! The guys an amatuer!

Bottom line, Andrew Martin has NOT done his due diligence, homework or evenly adequately prepared to reasonably think about running a Congressional Campaign - and the people of C.D. #3 need a guy who knows how to fight the good fight like Robert Daskas!

The smartest thing Andrew Martin could do is just stop PLEASE - Andrew I'm begging you to step back, take a long, solid, hard look at the facts (set those "feelings" and delusions of granduer aside) and do the right thing - suspend your campaign (and save your chance of ever doing anything successfully in Nevada Democratic politics)!

If you foolishly choose to persist in this joke of a campaign you've tried to put together - things are only going to get worse, and you're going to lose, and when the Primary is over - you'll be remembered as a loser and not a team player!

Keep that in mind, because that is exactly what is at risk - your reputation and poltical future in Nevada!

Better yet, after suspending your campaign - donate the maximum to Daskas' campaign!

That would be a good way to thank Robert Daskas for even recognizing you publicly.

That is ALL of the free professional advice I'm giving you - PLEASE don't make me repeat this to you, or any of your half a dozen, equally naive, supporters, AGAIN!

NOTE to Robert Daskas: You're being too nice for even recognizing Andrew publicly - may I politely suggest once is more than enough, and I wouldn't even waste the time having a primary debate with Martin - he's not even a worthy opponent. Oh, and if no one has said so, there is a rule that the front-runner never, ever refers to a worthy opponent by name. So, in Martin's case I'd recommend, if and when his name comes up, you just put a quizical look on your face and say something like, "Oh, yeah, that other guy..." be nice about it, but maybe act like you're swatting a fly, then, brush your shoulder off - and change the subject immediately to Porter AND Bush!

Andrew Martin will either continue this pathetic excuse of a campaign that only makes a mockery of our democracy - or, he'll get smart, suspend his race - and if he's really smart he will donate the max to Daskas' campaign and start talking to the Democratic Party professionals that know what they're doing and can help him!

Let's see how the D.C. boy decided to play the odds in Vegas?

04/21/08 11:48 pm

Never seen his Republican wife

posted by annnnnonymus

I've NEVER seen his Republican wife & it does matter especially in a heated race like this. He can poo poo on Porter for supporting this war but in his first press release said he would vote YES to fund the war. I bet alot of his "anti-war" volunteers are VERY embarrassed to be supporting the very behaviors they protest. The best part was at the anti-war rally where his staffers were holding his sign right next to a banner that read in BIG letters tell Congress to stop funding the war now! Did they not read the banner or do they believe in their loyal sheep? One more thing his voting record, he doesn't even vote 99% of the time! Why is that? I guess he has learned allot from Harry Reid DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO. Good puppet!

04/23/08 12:40 am

DEBATE

posted by you know it already

Does Daskas want to debate Martin?

04/23/08 12:49 am

When's their first debate?

posted by desert keeper

When is their first debate?
I'm very interested.
Sincerly, Desert Keeper

04/24/08 12:09 pm

Why Debate?

posted by Johnathan Abbinett

Why in the world would Robert Daskas waste any valuable time even debating Andrew Martin? Debates are worthwhile between formidable opponents - but, Martin is not even considered a serious candidate, let alone a worthy primary opponent?

Martin has already blown his opportunity to run a successful race this cycle. He's gone through one campaign staff team, and has made such a bad first impression on most of the Nevada political operatives, advocates and activists no one will even return his phone calls! So, now, Martin has had to hire inexperienced volunteers who are little more than novices at political staff work!

Now, that's sad when you've got all the money in the world - but, can't even get professional poltical people to work for top money!

Between Andrew's half-a-dozen friends and family, and another half-a-dozen volunteers, he has no chance now of even putting together a respectable campaign - it is just s-a-d!

Andrew Martin should suspend his joke of a campaign and make the maximum donation to Robert Daskas' run!

In that way Martin could save what's left of his reputation and doesn't get branded a "L-O-S-E-R!"

Andrew PLEASE give serious consideration to running for a Nevada State Assembly seat - Nevada obviously, desperately, needs your financial skills - but, you are no where near ready for a U.S. House Congressional seat!

Oh, and Andrew, when you do decide to run for office, again, try hiring a professional and proven campaign staff that know what they're doing and have a track record of winning!

You're volunteers are a bunch of really nice people, like you, but they just don't have the professional experience it takes to put together a political team, run a spirited campaign, let alone get out the vote and win...

...I mean let's GET REAL - do you want to go down in Nevada poltical history as little more than a flash in the pan and a historical side joke?

GET REAL and GET SERIOUS MAN!

04/25/08 3:53 pm