Republicans dust off their talking points for this spring's budget battles

"The numbers are crystal clear, and they tell the truth," said Rep. Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee. "This budget, the Democratic budget, gives us the largest tax increase in American history." (Washington Post, 3/30/07)

"I stand here today showing Republicans united in our opposition to the largest tax increase in American history," House Republican leader John A. Boehner of Ohio said. "These are real tax increases that are going to hurt American families." (Washington Post, 3/29/07)

"What the Democrat Leadership is bringing to the House floor is a budget that is economically irresponsible, damaging to America's competitive position in the world, and penalizes the average American family. The budget does not even make a pretense of entitlement reform, increases non-defense discretionary spending by $22 billion, and imposes the largest tax increase in history by allowing the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 to expire. In practical terms, that means an increased tax bill for more than 12.5 million California families, including the elimination of the increased child tax credit. The Democrat budget assumes a balanced budget on the backs of American workers and at the expense of America's competitive edge in the global marketplace. It will not achieve balance, but it will be harmful to America's families and I intend to vote against it." (Representative Howard "Buck" McKeon, States News Service, 3/28/07)

The Democrats' budget will impose the largest tax increase in American history - nearly $400 billion over five years. (Representative Jim Walsh, States News Service, 3/29/07)

The Democrats' budget, slated for a vote on the House floor on Thursday, will impose the largest tax increase in American history nearly $400 billion over five years. Eliminating relief from the marriage tax penalty will raise taxes on 23 million Americans. Cutting the child tax credit will raise taxes on 31 million Americans. (Congressman Roy Blunt, States News Service, 3/28/07)

Following the example of their Senate brethren last Friday, House Democrats will adopt a budget resolution containing the largest tax increase in U.S. history amid massive national inattention. (Robert Novak, Chicago Sun Times, 3/29/07)

Their budget proposes the largest tax increase in American history - The Democrat's budget calls for a tax increase of every tax bracket, slashes the child tax credit, raises the death tax, and reinstates the marriage penalty. (Congressman John Campbell, Flashreport blog)

House Dems Pushing for Largest Tax Increase in History: Pro-family experts say tax hike would devastate families (Focus on the Family Citizenlink.com)

Projected over the ten-year period, the expiration (or required offset) of all existing tax cuts would raise projected revenues by $3,268 billion—easily the largest peacetime tax increase in American history. (Brian Riedl, Heritage Foundation website, 3/22/07)

Democrats Propose Largest Tax Increase in the History of the US (Congressman Mike Conaway's blog)

"Democrat's Propose the Largest Tax Increase in American History" While the Kung Pau Democrats were passing p[ort for peanuts and shrimp as well as a timetable for defeat, they were also busy laying the groundwork for the largest tax hike in history. (Hugh Hewitt, Townhall blog, 3/25/07)

The Democrat budget reported Wednesday proposes the largest tax increase in U.S.history – $392.5 billion over 5 years – mainly to finance immense new spending through 2012. (Nickel J.com)

And so on and so forth. A point of order: The 2001 tax bill contained the provision that everyone is now arguing over that eliminates the tax cuts entirely in 2011. In other words, the 2001 tax bill - proposed by a Republican president and passed by a Republican Congress - contained a gigantic tax cut followed by an equally gigantic tax increase. Wasn't it the Republicans who imposed the largest tax increase in U.S. history?