Posted on 01/07/2005 8:08:18 AM PST by Melpomene
Looks like a wise political move
Way to go Dubya! Appoint a commitee made up professional politicians that screwed up the system in the first place. Reminds me of CBS investigating CBS.
At least they both support tax cuts.
Amen. Where is Bill Archer on this? Herman Cain? Looks like the fix is already in. How did Breaux land on this job? Bush's love for Democrats will utimately doom the Republicans.
If you want anyone to take the recommendations with some seriousness, you must put up people that congress will respect and it must appear to be two party. Breaux is a middle of the road southern democrat. He helped pass Bush's tax cuts in previous years and was known as a guy that could bring both sides together. I think breaux is a good choice
Breaux is a good guy. Bash someone else!
Probably it makes sense to put politicians rather than economists in charge. The economists will crunch the numbers, but the politicians must judge what can be done within the bounds of political possibility.
I am sorry, the only way to make the process serious is to do serious and accurate research. The politics should be peripheral, especially from Republicans. We need folks who have done serious academic and policy work in taxation to head the panel, not lifetime politicians. The only politics I am willing to consider is not between Republican and Democrat, but between flat-tax or consumption tax. The only politicians on this panel should be proponents of either plan, not ones who will derail both. Expect no tax simplification.
The bounds of political possibility will be determined by the winners in elections. Remember, Republicans have already won. Why suck up to Democrats now?
While I would prefer an NRST over an income tax, it is worth pointing out that in the language of economists, a flat income tax is considered a "consumption tax".
BTW, I love this poo-pooing inserted in the article:
That means that popular deductions for millions of Americans -- like interest payments on home mortgages and charitable contributions, among others -- could be affected.
I view this paragraph as an effort to drum up opposition.
http://www.issues2000.org/Economic/John_Breaux_Tax_Reform.htm
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John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and SS/Medicare payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a retail sales tax:
H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.Refer for additional information: http://www.fairtax.org, http://www.salestax.org & http://www.geocities.com/cmcofer/ftax.html
Do you think these two guys are going to do all the work themselves? They will hire the kind of people you recommend. Then Mack and Breaux will work to get the support.
You mis-understood me. These career politicians will not do the independent and rigorous research you need to do. Again, the politics should be between flat-tax or consumption tax if Bush is sincere about tax-reform. With career politicians it will be more about politics than tax-reform. I would put Bill Archer, Bill Tauzin, Dick Armey, Herman Cain, Jack Kemp - politicians who are at the fore-front of tax-reform. I don't think John Breaux ever uttered those two words, and probably neither did Connie Mack. Politicians who are serious about tax-reform should have been put in charge. I can guarantee you that if Kerry won and if he wanted to do tax-reform, then Paul Krugman will be in charge.
Please put me on your ping list.
"That means that popular deductions for millions of Americans -- like interest payments on home mortgages and charitable contributions, among others -- could be affected.
I view this paragraph as an effort to drum up opposition."
I view the paragraph as completely idiotic. We don't need "popular deductions" if we don't have income tax.
National Sales Tax is the way to go!!
Exactly
I agree.
It is amazing how many people are willing to give a no interest loan to the feds and then get all excited when they get it back.......clueless.
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