Posted on 07/07/2007 12:10:37 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Giuliani Jeered for Opposing Flat Tax Jul 7 02:16 PM US/Eastern By RON WORD Associated Press Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani drew jeers Saturday for saying he does not think a flat federal income tax is right for the country.
At a town hall meeting, several dozen people wearing white flat tax T- shirts and hats and carrying signs expressed their disappointment when Giuliani said he would not favor a flat tax.
"I don't think a flat tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates," the former New York City mayor said. "I have a real question whether it would be the right transition for our economy."
People generally would lose breaks such as mortgage interest and charitable donation deductions but pay federal income taxes at a singleand lowerrate. Flat tax proposals typically promise simpler paperwork and the elimination of taxes on estates, capital gains and dividends.
Giuliani said he supported a simpler tax system and cuts in federal taxes, including elimination of the inheritance tax.
Ken Mertz of Fernandina Beach said he not pleased with Giuliani's response. "I am disappointed in him. But he did say he would look into it," he said.
In a news conference after his speech, Giuliani said taxes would go down if he were in the White House.
He contended that Democrats want to see taxes go up and said John Edwards wants to repeal the Bush administration's tax cuts. "That would amount to the largest tax increase in U.S. history," Giuliani said.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
“Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates,”
Time to shake the economy.
Amen.
Guiliani receives the majority of his individual donor contributions from very wealthy high net worth individuals. They support Guiliani because he supports their views on social policy. A view that hits the middle class the hardest, but placates the vacant feelings of the Guiliani wing of the RINO party.
That one seems inept sometimes. He might have said he wouldn’t oppose the flat tax if Congress adopts it.
If a flat tax is good enough for Russia, it’s good enough for the US.
Of course when Rudy said that OUR economy is depends on its current tax structure to survive he is talking about the Federal Governments economy!!! Our real economy would explode if payroll taxes were eliminated. Just so its understood that most politicians are concerned with the FEDS cash flow problems, not ours.
Just think how many accountants and lawyers the flat tax would put out of work!
We'd be better off without them.
L
Just say "NO to RINOS"
Well that's good at least. But supporting the current tax [bracket] system where folks are punished (by being taxed at a higher rate) for making more money is decidedly not good.
Rudy, do something better by supporting the Fair Tax instead!
If Giuliani wants to shake things up, he should say he is a supply-sider like President Kennedy.
From your link:
“Rudolph W. Giuliani accepted the endorsement of Steve Forbes yesterday and embraced Mr. Forbess signature issue, saying he liked the idea of a flat tax something Mr. Giuliani denounced when Mr. Forbes was running for president.”
Julie Annie is a two faced, duplicitous opportunist sleaze bag.
“Just think how many accountants and lawyers the flat tax would put out of work!”
Sweet!
“Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates”
He really means that American political power is dependent upon the way our tax system operates.
“If a flat tax is good enough for Russia, its good enough for the US.”
You suggest that Russia has an economic model, which the USA should follow?
We already have a flat tax @ 26% - AMT.
Exactly, the Fairtax would be far better . The flat taxers need to get on the Fairtax bandwagon . I think many people, including RINO Rudy, are confusing the two .
More solid evidence that Rooty Toot is a liberal and loves big government bureaucracy.
By "Our Economy" he means the governments economy in Washington, tax and spend, tax and spend!
Goolianni is so out of touch with Americans.What an arrogant ass.
Unfortunately, the tax code is written in such a way to promote certain behaviors and discourage others. Moving away from such a system would require an enormous transition at least over the short term.
We are far from rich, but my family and business benefit from the current tax code and would be seriously affected by a flat tax. That may be a good thing for our country, but one cannot say that it would have no affect the economy of our country.
Frankly, alot of good conservatives are against many of the flat tax proposals.
the sooner juliani, romni, and mccfuzzy
drop out of the race, the better.
Of course the economy is not dependent on taxes, but the economy is definitely affected by the taxes. For example, the fair tax proposals out there are far more conducive to wealth creation than the flat tax. It is far better to tax consumption activities than investment and business creation and expansion activities.
Just think how many IRS agents and their ilk will be out of jobs! SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!
However, the Fair Tax is very popular around here, I presume that's what the t-shirts were expounding.
If so, the article is misleading, and the Fair Tax loses some exposure it's proponents earned by their activism.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani ran into a buzz saw of opposition Saturday when he explained his opposition to elimination of the federal income tax and replacing it with a so-called "fair tax" based on consumption.
Giuliani addressed a group of about 500 people in a standing-room only crowd at a town hall meeting at the University of North Florida, answering questions for about 30 minutes on a variety of topics from Iraq and Iran to Social Security and his plan for tax cuts.
Several dozen people jeered when Giuliani, in response to a question, said he would not be in favor of what they call the fair tax.
"I have to study it some more," the former New York City mayor said. "I don't think a fair tax is realistic change for America. Our economy is dependent upon the way our tax system operates."
"Fair tax" proposals would abolish federal income taxes and other federal taxes and replace them with a form of national sales tax.
Giuliani emphasized he supported a simplified tax system and cuts in federal taxes, including elimination of the so-called death tax, but his response to the fair tax question brought some cat calls and jeers. "I have a real question whether it would be the right transition for our economy," he said.
"I am disappointed in him," said Ken Mertz of Fernandia Beach, who was wearing a "Fair Tax" hat. "But he did say he would look into it." ....
See post #35.
I saw this article too, and I was wondering what was going on as well. The question still remains: Was Rudy jeered for opposing the flat tax, or was Rudy jeered for opposing the Fair Tax? I’m guessing that Rudy was jeered for opposing the Fair Tax.
The only strong, flat tax supporter that I’m aware of is Steve Forbes, who has also been pushing his own book about the flat tax for awhile.
Well, Grover Norquist is probably the most active with his Americans for Tax Reform, though Steve Forbes is definitely the most prominent.
Still, while the flat tax is popular in many circles, you just don’t see people at the grassroots level turning out with anything like the numbers and enthusiasm we’re seeing with the FairTax. A flat income tax is still an income tax, and Americans are tired of being punished for being productive.
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