REPUBLICANS PLAN PUSH FOR ELIMINATION OF IRS

http://www.drudgereport.com/ ^ | XXXXX SUN AUG 01, 2004 21:01:25 ET XXXXX | Matt Drudge

[downtoliberalism]

**Exclusive**

A domestic centerpiece of the Bush/GOP agenda for a second Bush term is getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

The Speaker of the House will push for replacing the nation's current tax system with a national sales tax or a value added tax, Hill sources tell DRUDGE.

"People ask me if I’m really calling for the elimination of the IRS, and I say I think that’s a great thing to do for future generations of Americans," Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert explains in his new book, to be released on Wednesday.

"Pushing reform legislation will be difficult. Change of any sort seldom comes easy. But these changes are critical to our economic vitality and our economic security abroad," Hastert declares in SPEAKER: LESSONS FROM FORTY YEARS IN COACHING AND POLITICS.

[Dog Gone]

Please let it be so.

[nuffsenuff]

Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please let this be true. Please. Please. Please.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I would rather have the IRS than a Value Added Tax.

You would never know what taxes you were paying with a VAT. They would be anonymously embedded in the price you paid for a product.

At least with a national sales tax you see how much tax you are paying every time you purchase something.

[Annie03]

IRS ping

[Hemingway's Ghost]

If this true, and if they could make this happen, why then this would be the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[Husker24]

Unfortunately this will go nowhere.

[jammer]

So, Hastert wrote it in a book that it's a good--or essential--idea. Where does that translate into being a centerpiece of the Bush/GOP agenda? The headline is misleading, if not downright dishonest.

[nuffsenuff]

I like the "National Sales Tax" version much better too.

I don't even know what a "Value Add Tax" is to be honest.

[greatvikingone]

Makes sense to me. Libs want to be European, this is what Europe does. Think they'll get on board?

[silverleaf]

Taxing consumption. The Heinzs, Kerrys and Gores of the world may finally get to pay their "fair share".

[prion]

I would rather have the IRS than a Value Added Tax.

Me too. And I'd rather have a flat tax than all the above.

Still, the very idea that they're thinking radically about the tax situation is cheering.

[Dog Gone]

So would drug dealers and illegal aliens.

[dagar]

I think this is correct ;) -- VAT is paid by consumers rather than a buisness that is producing a product. Sales tax is paid by anyone purchasing goods (and some services). In theory, VAT helps businesses. However, I'm leary of VAT as it is a nebulus charge to hit us with.

Of course, none of this affects State Income Tax (sigh).

[lewislynn]

I don't even know what a "Value Add Tax" is to be honest.

A national sales tax without the receipt or an income tax without the forms.

[usnret99]

This would be great! Would like the Fed Sales Tax. The VAT is bulky and cumbersome over in Europe.

Next would love to see about 1/2 to 3/4 of the Government done away with.

[cripplecreek]

While they're at it they should do away with the waste as well.

[traviskicks]

flat tax is working well in Russia...

i hope somebody writes about studies that have been done and WHY the new system would be better. If the Republicans can do that in common sense language it'll be a sure win for 'em.

[Principled]

ping

[downtoliberalism]

Pushing reform legislation will be difficult. Change of any sort seldom comes easy.


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I thought this was encouraging.