Obama Has Itch For VAT Scratch Fever

IBD's Capital Hill ^ | 4/21/2010 | Ed Carson

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After White House aides repeatedly denied any plans for a European-style value-added tax, President Obama told CNBC today he is open to the idea: President Barack Obama suggested Wednesday that a new value-added tax on Americans is still on the table, seeming to show more openness to the idea than his aides have expressed in recent days. Before deciding what revenue options are best for dealing with the deficit and the economy, Obama said in an interview with CNBC, “I want to get a better picture of what our options are.”

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It would be hard to square Obama’s vow not to hike taxes on those making less than $200,000 with a European-style VAT, which taxes goods at every stage of production. But the math is clear. The federal government cannot balance the budget at projected spending levels solely on the backs of the rich.

[Sacajaweau]

He wants to say he lowered the huge debt he helped to create blah, blah, blah....

In the meantime, he's scre*** all the states...and they're all having to do the dirty "raise taxes" bit.....and EVERYONE is getting hit.

[montanajoe]

We don't have a sales tax in Montana which is great. For awhile every couple of years the GOP would propose a sales tax and the Dims would shot in down. Strange that a Dim president is trying to push this now..

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Canada has a VAT tax (the GST). Some provinces (including BC) are “harmonizing” their sales tax with the GST. This is a major political issue. The main opponents? The (socialist) NDP. The hypocracy behind this populist pandering is astounding. (The NDP is a pure tax and spend party.)

In favour of a VAT, everyone would pay some taxes, when they spend money. That might make the entitlement class rethink their demands for “free” government goodies. (Although, income tax “rebates” to low income people offset the cost of the GST, here in Canada — ie, some pay negative income tax.)

[lmr]

Ah.. He the Alinskyite is clever. A tax that would raise enough to cover his deficit while also curtailing consumption. People wouldn’t notice it on their IRS return, either. Combine it with Cap and Tax and you have him keeping his campaign promise:

“We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK.”

[R0CK3T]

“If you make less than $250K, you taxes will not increase by one thine dime.”

Guess who made that statement?

The guy who now wants to tax everything in America!

Tax and Spend - Liberalism doing what Liberalism does best!

[Ouderkirk]

I ride snowmobiles every year in Quebec. The woman who runs the motel we stay at, charges us 40% less if we pay her in cash. Pretty much everywhere in rural Quebec is like that. There is the posted price paid by using a credit card, and then there is the “cash price” which is significantly less.

[newfreep]

BO is a marxist muslim...vows mean absolutely nothing. Dishonesty is a way of life.

[x]

He did say he wouldn’t mind being a one term president ...

[Proud_USA_Republican]

"I got a fever, and the only thing that can cure it, is more taxes!"

[sydbas]

0bama = The Taxman

To quote the great Beatles song:

"Here's one for you nineteen for me"

[newfreep]

One 50-year term......

[PMAS]

Obama never met a tax he didn’t like.

[steveab]

Cash is King