Sen. Brownback Brings Back the Flat Tax
WASHINGTON (AP) _ A proposal to impose a flat tax is making a comeback, it’s part of Kansas Senator Sam Brownback’s campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
Pushed by conservatives in the 1990s, a flat tax calls for earned income to be taxed at the same rate instead of the current system of using different tax brackets for different incomes.
Brownback calls the current tax code “dreadful and incomprehensible.” Best known for his conservative stances on social issues, Brownback also touts himself as the Republican presidential prospect with the truest conservative ideals on fiscal issues as well.
Flat-tax fans say the system is a simple way to reward hard work, treat everybody equally and save the economy billions in tax-preparation costs.
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In the past few years, an increasing number of articles and stories about tax reform have appeared in the media and the internet. It is becoming increasingly clear that the current US tax code has become a problem that we must address and solve.
One of the proposed reforms is the flat tax, described in Steve Forbes’ book, “The Flat Tax Revolution.” The flat tax reform proposal in Congress (HR 1040) is a definite improvement over the convoluted tax code. Filing simplified tax returns on a postcard is appealing and has some popularity. However, history shows us that a flat tax doesn’t offer a permanent or satisfactory solution to our tax code problems.
The income tax started out as a single rate (flat) tax. Under the control of government and isolated from the People, it gradually grew into an oversized, complex mess, with numerous loopholes, multiple brackets and high rates. In 1986, the tax code was overhauled, simplified and reduced down to two brackets. Many deductions and loopholes were eliminated. Today, we are up to six brackets, and most of the loopholes are back. This demonstrates twice over that a flat tax simply won’t stay flat. It leaves the current tax code in place and sets the stage for another return to the system as it is now. Congress has the power of legislation, and We the People have little input or control. Lobbyists will continue to use their influence to procure tax breaks for special interests. They have more access to congressmen than We the People have. Precedents have been set. Each tax break complicates the tax code just a little more, and they all add up to a code with over 66,000 pages that even tax professionals don’t fully understand.
Finally, a flat tax is still income tax; it is contrary to the founders’ vision as set forth in the Constitution. The income tax was made possible only after self-serving politicians did an end run around the Constitution and the People in 1913 and took powers for themselves that the Constitution denied them.
In the last Congress, the FairTax Bill (HR 25) had 58 congressional co-sponsors; the Flat Tax Bill (HR 1040) had six.
Rep. John Linder (GA) introduced HR 25 (The FairTax Act of 2007) to the 110th Congress on January 4th, 2007. It already has 33 co-sponsors. The Flat Tax Bill (HR 1040) has not been introduced yet.
Popular support for the FairTax is strong and growing; flat tax support has all but vanished. Two very successful FairTax rallies have taken place; no flat tax rallies have been held or planned. The FairTax Book has outsold Steve Forbes’ book “Flat Tax Revolution” by a very large margin.
Income tax in any form, flat or graduated, is unacceptable. It’s time to scrap all income-based taxes once and for all and replace them with a single one-time retail tax, one that we control. At the same time, we need to repeal the 16th amendment so that income taxes will remain a memory.
Once enacted, the FairTax will shut down the income tax code and replace it with the consumption tax. Companion legislation, to be introduced to Congress soon, will start the process toward a constitutional amendment that will repeal the 16th amendment.
The flat tax was a good idea in its time, but that time has come and gone. Let’s give the FairTax a chance.
Chad Sargent
FairTax Volunteer
Raleigh, NC
Is Brownback a flat tax only canidate?
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