Posted on 07/14/2004 7:59:17 PM PDT by ancient_geezer
Dems call for simpler taxes
By Hans Nichols
House Democrats plan to take the argument for tax simplification to voters this fall, thus venturing into traditional Republican territory.
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will lead the charge, accusing the Republicans of complicating the tax code for individual filers and smalls businesses.
Republicans spent 40 months of their rule making the tax code more complicated, asserts Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
The move appears to be a classic “triangulation” tactic, so named by former presidential adviser Dick Morris, in which one party colonizes political territory traditionally occupied by its opposition.
Republicans say Democratic talk of tax simplification is simply code for revenue increases.
Some Democrats agreed with that Republican assessment and seemed to welcome a nationwide debate on tax simplification versus additional tax cuts.
A few Republicans are clearly were worried that their failure to reform the tax code in nearly 10 years as the governing party could resonate with voters.
Hoyer’s move seeks to pre-empt a GOP plan to dedicate floor time in the House next week to the subject of tax-code simplification.
The Democrats’ No. 2 accused Republicans of having “spent 40 months making it more complicated, adding 10,000 pages, give or take a hundred, to the tax code by what they have done over the last 40 months and made it exceedingly more complex, not less so.”
“We need to obviously deal with AMT [alternative minimum tax]. We need to deal with form-free filing. We think we can probably get to where the overwhelming majority, 80 to 90 percent, of the people do not have to file a form,” Hoyer added.
On Tuesday, Hoyer spoke to the Urban Institute on the subject, claiming part responsibility for a tax system he called an “embarrassment.”
“Who’s responsible for this? We all are. Democrats and Republicans, and every American who believes that the tax preferences that he or she utilizes are worthwhile,” said Hoyer.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) mocked the idea of Democrats pursuing a more simplified tax code. “Let me say the Democrats’ version of tax simplification is: ‘How much do you make? And give me all of it,’” he said.
“I mean, that is their philosophy. They have no credibility on this issue. They’re the ones that have basically designed this tax code. And I can’t wait to see their tax simplification plan.”
But some Democrats appeared to relish the debate. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said, “Whether the call for simplification trumps increased taxes, I think that is something we can debate.
“There’s a percentage of regular Americans that think a whole different set of rules applies for well-to-do and connected people when it comes to taxes.”
Some Republicans were also critical of their own party for failing to enact comprehensive tax reform.
“We’ve been here long enough,” said Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). “We better deliver a simplified tax code. I think this should be a centerpiece of reform for congressional Republican candidates. Instead of tax cuts, we should be talking tax simplification.”
It was unclear how prominent of a role the Democrats’ call for simplification would play in the coming election. But Hoyer vowed that it would be a key theme, on a par with Medicare. Aides said that the final decisions had not yet been made.
Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.), a longtime advocate for streamlining the tax code, conceded that its overall size has grown under the Republicans’ tenure.
“We need to cut through this, there’s a lot of fog,” he said, “The code is far too long and continues to grow.”
However, Cox also said that he welcomes Democrats to the debate. “Well, the more the merrier,” he said.
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) disputed the Democrats’ sincerity, saying, “Tax simplification can mean tax increases.”
But Democratic lawmakers vow to ratchet up their rhetoric and insist they have polling data to support their claims.
“If you’re a lawyer or an accountant, this tax code is perfect for you,” said Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.).
If you would like to be added to this ping list let me know.
John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a retail sales tax:
H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.Refer for additional information: http://www.fairtax.org & http://www.salestax.org
Just steal the issue back, I say. Take their tax simplification measure and amend the hell out of it so that it still accomplishes the goal of simplification but has a distinctive Republican flavor nonetheless.
Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.), a longtime advocate for streamlining the tax code, conceded that its overall size has grown under the Republicans’ tenure.
“We need to cut through this, there’s a lot of fog,” he said, “The code is far too long and continues to grow.”
Yah think, maybe a little bit??
Source: CCH Inc. Number of pages in the CCH Standard Federal Tax Reporter, as found on Cato website.
You don't reckon somebody's, well, fibbing here, do ya?
"Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) said, “Whether the call for simplification trumps increased taxes, I think that is something we can debate."
I have to give Rep. Weiner credit for his honesty and candor. He's one of the few Democrats who admit that they favor increasing taxes.
Call their bluff. Scrapp the whole sorid mess and start ove.
I don't know why you keep pushing this sales tax snake oil. Gov't spending has to be cut, first of all, and the 16th Amendment will have to get repealed, which could take months, even years. It's best to implement a strict 20% flat income tax with a single $4,000 exemption for single filers ($8,000 for married couples and widows with dependent children) for now and go from there.
Where do I sing up? ;O)
The ONLY way that people like kerry, kennedy, (and yes!) Bush and all of the other big money people in the US will truly pay their real fair share of taxes is by instituting a national SALES TAX! NOT Income Tax!
The very rich do not have "Income" as defined in the irs codes - only we peones have that honor.
Pay tax on what you spend and their shelters no longer work because it will be collected immediately!
No tax on food, medical, nor housing under a certain amount, and just a very few others to protect the truly needy and poor.
Gov't spending has to be cut, first of all, and the 16th Amendment will have to get repealed, which could take months, even years
TAXES
100years of history under the income tax makes it clear that we will not get there (smaller government) from here (the income tax).
“'We’ve been here long enough,' said Rep. Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.). 'We better deliver a simplified tax code. I think this should be a centerpiece of reform for congressional Republican candidates. Instead of tax cuts, we should be talking tax simplification.'”
Amen to that. I just checked and Rep. Wamp was not represented at the FairTax presentation in DC last week. We should definitely contact him. There were, however, more than 100 house and senate offices represented and all seats were taken - 150 in all. It was reportedly the largest tax reform meeting ever held for house and senate staffs.
No tax on food, medical, nor housing under a certain amount, and just a very few others to protect the truly needy and poor.
Who gets to define what should be taxfree?
Better to just offset the taxes on the povertline level of expenditure with a demogrant for everyone and don't allow any exceptions to the tax.
Keep the special intrests and politicians out of the game of deciding for you. How do you think we ended up with 60,000 pages of income tax code, hmmm?
Under the guise of "simplification", Democrats are looking to repeal corporate and small business tax breaks and use it to fund their socialist schemes, all the while not looking like the knee-jerk commies they are. This is the new spin, and once again the GOP is caught with their pants down.
And you're naive to think that Congress is going to approve a national sales tax, and that the IRS and the 16th will disappear. Some federal agency is going to collect the sales tax receipts, unless you think foolishly think state governments are going to send 50 checks to Washington simultaneously.
Notice the total lack of a plan for Demmie tax reform? I think DeLay said it all when he said their plan is "give me all of it".
Mr. Hoyer just committed political suicide by bringing up an issue in which they have no leg to stand on. Ms. Pelosi is probably beating him about the head and shoulders right about now.
What a Weiner.
Both parties are guilty of the usual election-year politics. Before tax reform can be accomplished government spending has to be cut, otherwise you'll have a flat or sales tax in the high 40 percent range.
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