Reid responds to President's budget

While President bush's 2009 budget plan would renew tax breaks Democrats say go mostly to the wealthy, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, said Tuesday it would actually increase taxes on Nevada's families.

In a telephone conference interview, Sen. Reid said Bush chose not to extend the sales tax deduction or the deduction on college tuition, both of which expired with the end of 2007.

"At a time when Nevada families are feeling the effects of a weakened economy, the president should not be trying to raise their taxes," he said.

Reid said Congressional Democrats will "do everything we can" to extend those tax credits.

The sales tax credit allowed residents in states that don't have income taxes but rely more heavily on sales taxes to take a deduction on their federal tax form for taxes paid. The college deduction allowed families making up to $130,000 a year to deduct $4,000 a year for tuition and families making more than that to deduct $2,000 a year.

Read the complete story, including Reid's comments on funding for Yucca Mountain, by picking up Thursday's Nevada Appeal or checking back online.