61.   Political analysts said he might have been unable to make these cuts, or even suggest the tax hike, had the elected supervisors been more closely involved.

62.   Retail stocks such as supermarket operator Ito-Yokado Co. slipped amid lingering concern that a planned consumption tax hike will weigh on sales, traders said.

63.   Republicans are poised to use the war for political advantage and stick it to the Democrats as the party of tax hikes.

64.   Right now the leading Democratic candidate is Florio, who left office identified with tax hikes, a concept that elicits something less than universal enthusiasm.

65.   Santorum criticized both alternative plans because, he said, they include significant tax hikes.

66.   Since the rationale for the tax hike was to reduce the federal budget deficit, it appears to have delivered less than its supporters might have hoped for.

67.   So a tax cut today will have to be offset by a tax hike in the future.

68.   Still, investors are doubting that the boost in production will carry past the tax hike, Hartnett said.

69.   Supporters said it would prevent unnecessary tax hikes.

70.   Supporters say the tax hike would discourage teens from smoking by pricing them out of the market.