Senate Floor Speech
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
January 7, 2003 -- Page: S39

MRS. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce a package of three bills I hope will be the starting point for a long overdue discussion on reducing taxes on investment income, particularly dividends. The first bill would completely eliminate taxes on dividends. The second bill would reduce the tax on dividends to the capital gains rate. The third bill would lower the tax to the capital gains rate on dividends and interest income. These bills would not only stimulate the economy, but also correct long-term problems with the tax code.

The economy is currently on the way to recovery but faces significant bottlenecks along the way. Following a mild recession, we are experiencing moderate growth. Many believe we will continue on a slow yet steady pace, but we are not yet in the clear. We must take aggressive steps to create jobs and ensure the economy gets moving again.

The most effective tool government has for promoting growth is the tax code. By lowering taxes we allow people to keep more of their money and spend it more effectively than the government ever could.

Lowering the taxes on investment income would stimulate the economy on several levels. First, we would leave more money in the pockets of families to spend. Second, lowering taxes on dividends would encourage investors to re-enter the stock market and realize higher returns since the government would be taking less. The increased demand for stocks would stabilize the market and encourage economic growth. Third, these tax cuts would ultimately help to reduce the deficit as tax revenues increase from higher economic growth and increased capital gains revenue.

A tax cut on investment income would particularly help the elderly and others who rely on fixed incomes. A third of seniors received dividend income and more than half of dividends go to seniors. With such pressures as the rising cost of healthcare, it is critical that we let them keep as much of their money as possible. Also, these tax cuts would help a broad cross-section of Americans. For example, almost half of those who receive dividends have income of less than $50,000.

One of the problems with our tax code is the double taxation of dividends. People have already paid taxes on the money they use to invest. Then they must pay taxes on their investment income. This is not fair and discourages savings.

Also, companies must use after-tax dollars to pay dividends. Investors then have to pay taxes on their dividend income at the ordinary income tax rates. This leads to two unintended consequences.

First, it encourages investors to focus on returns through stock price appreciation, which are taxed at the lower capital gains rate. People are encouraged to invest in higher growth, but often in riskier companies, rather than more stable, dividend-paying companies. As anyone can see from the collapse of stock prices in high-growth sectors over the past two years, the current incentives in the tax code may not lead to the best decisions for investors.

Second, the double taxation of dividends encourages companies to raise capital by loading up on debt rather than issuing stock, because interest expense on debt can lower a company's taxes while dividend payments do not. This leads to an increase in highly leveraged companies that are at greater financial risk when the economy slows.

Whether investors should invest in growth stocks is a decision that must be left to individuals. Likewise, the issuance of debt is best decided by the company in question. By lowering the tax rates on dividends and interest income, we would reduce the influence of taxes on these decisions.

Increasingly, America is a Nation of investors. Today, half of U.S. households own stock. The number of shareholders has increased more than 60 percent since 1989. Thus, it is critical to ensure our tax laws lead to rational decisionmaking; decisions based on the best investment choices, not guided by tax inequities. Let's take tax rates out of the capital allocation decision process. People should make investment decisions based on what is the best investment.

I call on the Senate to bolster the economy, help senior citizens meet their financial needs, and level the way we tax investment gains by lowering taxes on investment income. Today, I offer three alternatives I hope will lead to a constructive discussion and action to achieve these goals.