I'm tired of the spin on both sides so I ran the #'s on income tax.

 

Married filing jointly

Personal exemption married $5,600

Personal exemption married $7,000

+$1,400
Taxable Income Tax Amount in 2000, Last year under Clinton Tax Amount in 2008, Last year under Bush
*Reduction
$15,000
$2,250
$1,500
33%
$20,000
$3,000
$2,198
27%
$25,000
$3,750
$2,948
21%
$30,000
$4,500
$3,698
18%
$40,000
$6,000
$5,198
13%
$50,000
$8,300
$6,698
19%
$60,000
$11,100
$8,198
26%
$80,000
$16,700
$12,688
24%
$100,000
$22,300
$17,688
21%
$150,000
$37,621
$30,744
18%
$500,000
$170,688
$146,575
14%
$10,000,000
$3,932,668
$3,471,575
12%

 

To me it looks like the big winners are everyone making below $150k except for those making $40k.

 

What if filing jointly and you have 2 kids under 18?

2000 Gross income $34,000. 2008 Gross income: $34,000  
Deductions: 4x$2,800= $11,200 Deductions 4x$3,500=$14,000  
Adjusted gross income $22,800 Adjusted gross income: $20,000  
Tax: $3,420

Tax: $2,198

35%

 

*Reduction % would be slightly higher if you factor in the savings due to the increased personal and child deduction