During his eight years as governor of Florida, Bush-backed legislation produced between $10 billion and $19 billion in tax cuts, depending on how it’s counted. Florida does not have a state income tax, so the tax cuts came in other ways: on homes, businesses, investments, large estates. The bulk came through a repeal of the wealth tax on financial instruments, according to Politico.
But Bush does not rule out tax increases absolutely. He has never signed Grover Norquist’s “no new tax” pledge. In 2012, when asked during a congressional hearing whether he would agree to a budget deal that included small tax increases alongside major tax cuts, he said yes.
“If you could bring to me a majority of people to say that we’re going to have $10 of spending cuts for $1 of revenue enhancement – put me in, Coach,” said Bush.
