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Former Deleware Sen. Bill Roth dead at 82

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Former Delaware Republican senator and tireless tax-cut crusader Bill Roth has died at the age of 82.

Roth died late Saturday while visiting his daughter in Washington, friends told the Wilmington, Del., News Journal.

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Ross represented the state in Congress for more than 30 years, becoming the longest-running statewide-elected official in Delaware history, the newspaper said.

He lost his bid for a sixth six-year term in the 2000 election to Democrat Tom Carper. During the campaign, the then 79-year-old claimed his age was an asset.

"My background and experience enables me to make a significant contribution," he said.

Nationally, Roth was best known as co-author of the 1981 Kemp-Roth tax cut and creator of the Roth IRA tax-free savings account.

Roth made it his personal goal to reduce government waste and uncovered the Pentagon's infamous $9,600 wrench and $640 toilet seat purchases.

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