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 resident
George W. Bush has presented to Congress a proposal to cut the marginal
tax rates for all Americans. And
today
the Senate is debating limits on free speech in political campaigns.
It is time to pay tribute to the political leader who showed uncommon
wisdom on these issues a generation ago — the late Rep. William
Steiger, Republican of Wisconsin.
Steiger turned the Republican party around on cutting taxes. In
1978, he pushed through Congress a deep cut in capital-gains rates.
This was the first time in 57 years that the maximum capital-gain
rate was reduced. Steiger made the case that cutting taxes encourages
investment, creates employment, and increases individual freedom.
His was the opening shot fired in the tax-cutting revolution that
Ronald Reagan took to Washington in 1981.
But this was not Steiger's first contribution to American liberty.
Alone among Republicans in Congress, in 1975 he challenged the constitutionality
of the campaign-finance regulations passed in the wake of the Watergate
scandal. He did so in league with plaintiffs Sen. James Buckley
(Con., N.Y.), Sen. Eugene McCarthy, the Libertarian party, the Mississippi
Republican party, and the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Steiger was also widely recognized as a gentleman of the old school
who acted with civility and kindness toward friend and foe alike.
He continued in office, fighting for his principles, despite suffering
from chronic heart disease. He died shortly after his trailblazing
tax cut became law.
And one final point: Among those who worked on Rep. Steiger's staff
was our current vice president, Dick Cheney. Steiger's legacy lives
on.
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