Hell, they've been eliminating deductions, and the ability of the average taxpayer to avail himself of their benefits, for the past 15 years. This, in conjunction with the Alternative Minimum Tax, has been a stealth increase in the taxes paid by Middle Income homeowners. For most it is getting much more difficult to avoid taxes through Itemization and that is the objective of this process.
Removing the personal interest deduction in the late 1980s was horrible.
I would like to see all witholding eliminated. Send everyone a monthly bill. Then we will never have to fight to get the average citizen riled up about high taxes again. Can you imagine the size of the monthly bill? It would be as much as rent in some places.
The "Tax simplification" of 1986, designed in large part by Gephardt, was the big sneaky step. I have not bought a new car since, I can't afford the depreciation. In addition, it put in that 7% of AGI minimum for med expenses.
What a disaster.