Senator Obama Meets with Helton Family to Discuss Real Tax Relief for Middle Class Families

LAS VEGAS, NV - Today, Senator Barack Obama will meet with Andy and Hilary Helton of Las Vegas, Nevada, along with their three children, to discuss the economic challenges facing the middle class and how his tax plan will bring real relief for working families like them.

Andy and Hilary Helton are raising their three children, ages 15, 13 and 6, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Originally drawn to the area due to employment opportunities, last December Andy lost his job as an IT manager when his employer laid off 80% of its workforce. He's now working temp jobs in the area. In late 2007, Hillary started her own photography business, after working as a medical biller for years. In years past, their joint income was just over $100,000. However, this year they estimate their income to be $30,000. They have a hefty monthly mortgage payment, and they are feeling squeezed by the rising costs of gasoline, groceries, and healthcare. They cannot afford to save for their children's college education, and have had to cash in their own retirement savings. The Heltons would see meaningful relief under Barack Obama's tax and health care plans-but not under the plans proposed by John McCain.

A new report released earlier this month by the non-partisan Tax Policy Center confirms that Obama's tax plan will provide middle class families with tax cuts that are three times as large as cuts they would receive under McCain's plan. The report also found that nearly one quarter of the benefits of the McCain tax plan would go to families earning over $2.8 million per year.

"The middle class has always been the engine of prosperity in this country-but for nearly eight years we've had an administration that tells working people ‘you're on your own," Senator Obama said. "Not when I'm President. I'll reform our tax code to benefit the middle class instead of the big corporations. I'll make sure that quality health care is affordable and accessible for every American. And I'll provide real relief from the housing crisis by creating a foreclosure prevention fund, providing a tax break for homeowners, and cracking down on fraudulent lenders. Those are the kind of solutions that will make a difference for working Americans-and that's the kind of change we've been discussing on this tour."

According to Tax Policy Center analysis, the McCain plan would only offer the Heltons $113 per year in tax relief, while the Obama plan will provide $2,300 in real relief - plus additional savings on their health insurance

$1,000 every year from Obama's Making Work Pay tax credit
$800 every year (approximately) from Obama's universal mortgage interest credit
Up to $500 every year (approximately) from Obama's retirement savings match
Up to $2,500 every year in health care savings and access to affordable, quality and portable health insurance
Reducing the stress of filing out complicated tax reforms by creating a simplified tax filing system

In Nevada, the Obama plan will cut taxes for: