Herman Cain Calls Perry’s Plan ‘Flat Tax Lite’

ABC News ^ | 102711 | The Note

[Fred]

At a private fundraiser in Corpus Christi, Texas hosted by the Nueces County Republican Women, Cain told the group how his ’9-9-9′ plan measured up against Texas Governor Rick Perry’s recent ‘Cut, Balance, and Grow’ plan.

Cain said, “Bottom line, Governor Perry’s flat tax lite is no competition for 9-9-9.”

“Every interview that I do now till the end of the week, they’re going to want to compare it to the 999 plan,” said Cain, who elaborated on the many differences between his plan and Perry’s plan.

[fightinJAG]

“Here’s the other big difference. It doesn’t expand the base. As long as you’re only taxing income, the only way to raise revenue is to raise taxes. The reason he ends up with a 20 percent rate versus a 9 percent rate is because with 9-9-9 we expanded the base. We have income tax and we expanded the base by adding the national sales tax. And when you expand the base you can get the lowest rate possible for everybody,” Cain said.

Expanding the base (making more nontaxpayers into taxpayers) is THE most critical thing major tax reform has to accomplish!

At this point in history, tax reform is not -- should not be -- just about reviving our economy. It must address the structural problems in the Fedzilla tax code that are threatening our freedom.

All Perry's plan does is rearrange the deck chairs in a very pleasant way for PRESENT TAXPAYERS. Meanwhile, the size of the parasite class just keeps growing and growing and nothing is stopping it from going over 50% -- as which point is is GAME OVER.

For the many strong arguments against keeping the Fedzilla tax code in place indefinitely (as opposed to for a transitional period), which the Perry plan does, including how Rush and Levin are missing the boat on this thus far, see this thread and its crosslinks.

[NautiNurse]

This was the event attended by 1000 Texans who wanted to see and hear a candidate other than their own governor.

[exist]

The crowd loved Herman Cain but didn't seem as enthusiastic about 999. But Cain really fired up the crowd with the "Mama" joke.

[fightinJAG]

Of the outlines of plans we’ve been presented, only 999 builds in vastly superior politically accountability by broadening the tax base (making nontaxpayer into taxpayers.)

The way I see it is, 999 is not just tax reform, it’s also ENTITLEMENT reform.

Right now we have an almost majority in this country who, under our present Fedzilla tax code, are “entitled” to not be subject to paying federal taxes the producers are subject to. 999 changes that.

That is one of the reasons 999 is getting the pushback it is (and I agree that the more these ideas are debated and understood, the better off we’ll be when the LSM fully engages this race in a few months). It cuts an entitlement. Thus prompting Libs and, despically, the Michele Bachmanns of the world to play the Libs’ tiny violin by wailing “it hurts the poor the most.”

Well, that’s not true in a comprehensive perspective. But practically speaking, how in Hell’s Bells will conservatives EVER get through ANY entitlement reform if the so-called Tea Party darlings of the world reiinforce the dishonest and myopic canard that entitlement reform “it hurts the poor the most”?

[pallis]

More like flat tax half, with the bad half leaving the present income tax system as an option. That isn’t to say that the other half doesn’t need tweaking, beginning with a lower rate.

[fightinJAG]

My little archive of rants on why it's dumb and dangerous to leave the Fedzilla tax code in place while adding a mini-me sorta flat tax code on top:

here at #18

[CharlesWayneCT]

Cain raises taxes on millions of americans, in order to give lower taxes to other americans.

You will like this if you are one of those who ends up with lower taxes. You probably won’t like this if you either are one who ends up being taxed more, or if you are a conservative who doesn’t think the goal of conservatism is to tax MORE people.

As Perry said, his goal wasn’t to raise people’s taxes. Cain apparently was trying to do so. Of course, then he’s going to give some of them tax breaks, if they live in the favored entitlement zones. Or is that enterprize zones, or empowerment zones? Whatever the name, it’s the place where Cain gives you special tax breaks not available to the rest of America. If you do what Cain (federal government) wants. And if you were screwing up now — no acheivers or good conservative government zones need apply.

Cain may well believe it’s just “fairer” if everybody pays more in taxes, because of his national sales tax. But if the fight over the “Amazon Tax” is any indication, conservatives have NO INTEREST in plans that broaden the tax base, if that includes them. If Conservatives roundly criticize attempts by states to get help in collecting taxes that are already due by law, how will conservatives ever be talked into slapping another 9% tax onto those online purchases?

[fightinJAG]

Charles,

I have addressed all your arguments before, in detail. So I will leave it at that.