Posted on 01/11/2023 6:43:18 AM PST by Red Badger
The Republican-led House will vote on a bill to abolish the IRS and replace the existing income tax system with a wide-reaching consumption tax.
Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) introduced the legislation, the Fair Tax Act, on Tuesday. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) agreed to allow a floor vote on the legislation as part of a deal cut with the conservative House Freedom Caucus to become House speaker, Fox News reported.
The bill, which has a near zero chance of becoming law during this Congress, envisions simplifying the tax code by scrapping the income tax, payroll tax, corporate taxes, gift taxes, and the death tax altogether and replacing them with a nationwide consumption tax on goods and services. The IRS as an entity would also be killed by the legislation.
The "Fair Tax" plan is one that has been touted by conservative lawmakers for more than two decades, although it has never gained widespread acceptance within the GOP and is vehemently opposed by Democrats. The bill is in many ways the polar opposite of the Democratic legislation passed last year that infuses the IRS with funds to hire tens of thousands of more IRS workers.
“Instead of adding 87,000 new agents to weaponize the IRS against small business owners and middle America, this bill will eliminate the need for the department entirely by simplifying the tax code with provisions that work for the American people and encourage growth and innovation. Armed, unelected bureaucrats should not have more power over your paycheck than you do,” said Carter in a statement.
Several other conservative lawmakers have already signaled support for the Fair Tax Act and joined as co-sponsors, including Reps. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Bob Good (R-VA), Jim Banks (R-IN), and Kat Cammack (R-FL).
Proponents argue that the change would be fairer to the taxpayer by clarifying and simplifying the tax code while supporting businesses in the United States. The proposal gained increased national attention during the 2008 presidential election when former Gov. Mike Huckabee ran on the platform during the Republican primaries.
“As a former small business owner, I understand the unnecessary burden our failing income tax system has on Americans. The Fair Tax Act eliminates the tax code, replaces the income tax with a sales tax, and abolishes the abusive Internal Revenue Service,” said Duncan.
The bill’s introduction comes a day after the House held its first vote under Republican leadership, which was to claw back a majority of the $80 billion allocated to the IRS by Democrats last year. It passed 221-210 along party lines.
Folks, get used to the “the Republicans in Congress are poised to . . .” headlines.
Truth is, like the very first bill to defund the IRS, NOTHING the Republicans do in the next two years will get past the Senate or Biden’s veto. Is more likely that Republicans defect to support Democrats than vice versa . . .
A little theater that will energize D voters as much (or more) than R voters.
Real ones, that is. The fake ones are dependable D votes.
“Democrats = IRS!”
How’s that sound as a rallying cry?
We didn’t have McCarthy at the time. Just think if this same situation happened in January 2017. We would have gotten so much done. Trump’s hand would have become arthritic.
Ha. Sure.
What about the dead ones?.......................
Paul Ryan
ok, hmmm, a national sales tax of 0.5% on EVERYTHING sold, with no IRS to try and outfox, no tax paperwork, for the payroll people OR John Q Public ....could work.
of course, there would have to some folks to receieve and log the tax receipts, buy i doubt it would take all the present cadre of the IRS organization.
also all the money saved, even with the federal employee retirement system.
Seriously???
They’re really gonna vote to slaughter their cash cow??
I guess they’re getting more from special interest kick-backs these days…
None of this showboating is going anywhere in the Senate.
Yes indeed!!
This DOA idea is all for show.
“..Well, we TRIED!…”
“Why no bills like this when they had The House and Senate and a republican President a few years ago?”
Because they don’t really believe in it. They do this all the time vote for things when they can’t become law, but ignore them when the actually could.
Waste of time. Symbolism only. False encouragement for the sheeple. Not a chance of passing.
Why wasn’t this done instead of the Trump tax reduction? Why wasn’t it done when the pubbies had the power to do it?
Why? Because the tax code is a political tool for both parties that favors friends, punishes enemies and keeps the politicians in power.
I enjoy a good show, just like most other people. By all means, let them pass the "Fair Tax" bill in the House. It will be entertaining. We should not expect much more than that.
The Republicans have zero changes of moving anything through the Senate that the Democrats do not want. We all know this.
The best we can hope for is that the Republicans respond in kind. Don't give the Democrats anything that they want either. The House is where all spending bills must originate, and the Republicans nominally control the House.
We would all be better off to let government grind to a halt.
Consumption tax has already been struck down by the courts. Next?
“The Republican-led House will vote on a bill to abolish the IRS and replace the existing income tax system with a wide-reaching consumption tax.”
LOL
I support the goal but there are other more pressing things!
To spend time on it now is wasteful!
[snip] ...envisions simplifying the tax code by scrapping the income tax, payroll tax, corporate taxes, gift taxes, and the death tax altogether and replacing them with a nationwide consumption tax on goods and services. The IRS as an entity would also be killed by the legislation. [/snip]
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