According to various news reports and information from the Media Research Center, when President Clinton called Venus Williams to congratulate her for winning the U.S. Open women's tennis championship last weekend, Ms. Williams addressed the issue of high taxes.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Williams asked Clinton, "Can you lower my taxes, please?"  After Clinton laughed it off, Williams pressed: "So what can you do about it?"

Clinton said: "Not much, right now... We're working on it."  He also a mentioned support for some kind of an exemption for athletes.  Williams asked: "Should I read your lips?"

On Monday's The Early Show on CBS, Williams exhibited a better understanding than Clinton regarding how widespread tax relief should be: "I'm trying to help all Americans."

A tennis star for broad-based income tax cuts-very cool.

Raymond J. Keating
Chief Economist
Small Business Survival Committee
and co-author of
U.S. by the Numbers:
Figuring What's Left, Right, and Wrong with America State by State