Tax-law rewrite has key skeptic [Grassley, R-IA says comprehensive tax reform "difficult" to do]

Yahoo ^ | Nov 17, 2004 | Peronet Despeignes

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Grassley is enthralled to K-Street.

[Publius Valerius]

Grassley is a very fair and smart guy

I don't know about that. There are major defense contractors in 49 states in the Union. There is not a major defense contractor in Iowa. For years, defense contractors have (rightfully) been pushing for a major overhaul to the Federal False Claims Act, and Grassley has simply refused to allow any changes to what amounts to a bad bill that costs American taxpayers a helluva lot of money. First thing that happens when Grassley retires is the FCA gets amended.

I can't speak for Grassley all the time, but he is singlehandedly standing in the way of much needed FCA reform, and this doesn't appear to be his finest hour, either.

[Publius Valerius]

Is this guy a "lawyer" perchance? I bet he is!

I think he is a farmer.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

He's been there too long and has become part of the problem.

[Tax-chick]

It sounds like it. It's hard to find any of them of whom that's not true, unfortunately.

[Polyxene]

I've heard a flat tax would/should be 15% and the sales tax 23% with a lot of different scenerios for each. It just seems to me that instituting one of these would be a lot simpler than the gargantuan IRS code we have now. I am not an accountant, just my opinion.

[You Dirty Rats]

Simpler, yes, but a hugh and series change like that would create some big-time winners and losers. Passing a simplified tax law is easy; passing ANY law is easy! Understanding and living with the consequences is not so easy.

As a degreed accountant and corporate finance type, I can promise you that there will be Freepers advocating drastic changes that would be absolutely hammered by those changes. Tax policy and effects of changes are very, very complex. I hate the cost of complexity and would like to see us move to a much simpler system, but Grassley is correct: it won't be easy or painless.

[steplock]

Farmer? He is from a farm family. He's been a politician (or politico in training) since the mid 1950's.

Education: B.A. 1955, M.A. 1956 Political Science, University of Northern Iowa; Ph.D. work, University of Iowa

He does have a good varied background - but he has been in politics much too long.

Politics should not be a money enriching career but a responsibility.

[Polyxene]

Guess I'm just hoping against hope for a simpler life under Bush II!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

And temporary. The Founders never envisioned a full time legislature or 20 years in the senate for anyone...

[Chemist_Geek]

Understanding and living with the consequences is not so easy.

FWWWEEEEEEEEETT!

Use of logic and common sense in a Freeper hot-button issue discussion, ten yards penalty, still first down.

:-)

[Walkingfeather]

Re writing the tax coce would be difficult.... However Eliminating the tax code for a nat. sales tax would not. He knows what he is saying and not saying.

[BIGZ]

FLAT TAX ! FLAT TAX! FLAT TAX!

[Dementon]

Tax reform PING!