Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted in support of $70 billion in tax relief over the next five years. The measure passed the Senate 54-44. The bill has passed the House of Representatives and President Bush is expected to sign it into law. Graham made this statement after the Senate vote. “I firmly believe our tax cutting policies over the past few years are a major reason our national economy is performing so well. Tax relief helped create one of the strongest economic expansions in years and a national unemployment rate below 5 percent. Also, since the first Bush tax cuts were enacted, revenues to the federal treasury have gone up. “Our latest extension of tax relief will also be helpful in continuing to push our economy forward. I enthusiastically supported today’s tax stimulus package and look forward to President Bush signing it into law. “Unfortunately, many of our Democratic friends have opposed us in our tax cutting efforts at every turn. If the Democrats were in charge, nothing would have changed and Americans would still be paying higher taxes.” #####