Posted on 01/10/2006 10:03:42 AM PST by SolidSupplySide
Another prominent House Republican may be about to join the race to succeed Tom DeLay, who stepped down permanently as House Majority Leader over the weekend. Bill Thomas, the brainy and often bombastic chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is contemplating running in the Feb. 2 election, which will be decided by a secret vote of the 231 House Republicans.
Mr. Thomas views the current frontrunners, Acting Majority Leader Roy Blunt and Education Committee Chairman John Boehner, as too closely tied to the status quo. If he ran, according to former aides, he would likely garner enough support to ensure that no candidate wins the needed 50%-plus-one of the votes, thus forcing a runoff between the top two candidates.
First elected in 1978, Mr. Thomas doesn't strike one as a fresh face, but his allies tell me he has given much thought to an agenda that would revitalize the fractious GOP caucus. Its centerpiece would be tax cuts and tax reform. Mr. Thomas recognizes that the one thing that keeps many voters voting Republican is hope for control of spending, starting particularly with restraints on pork-barrel special interest legislation.
"There is a niche between Blunt and Boehner waiting to be filled by a candidate," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tells me. "I'm not sure Thomas fits that exactly, but someone who can plausibly argue that I'm experienced enough to have stature but unconventional enough to think in new directions would have a chance."
First elected in 1978, Mr. Thomas doesn't strike one as a fresh face, but his allies tell me he has given much thought to an agenda that would revitalize the fractious GOP caucus. Its centerpiece would be tax cuts and tax reform.
What chutzpah! Rep Thomas is not a champion of tax reform. He won't even consider the flat income tax.
Don't Cry for me Argentina
I believe Thomas is for an overhaul. I believe he supports a flat tax (sales, not value added), limited Corp tax, no inheritance tax, etc.
Pretty mainstream...
One of the biggest problems with the Fed Gov is their Bookkkeeping is not GAAP. They have too many things "off the books", like unfunded liabilities. It misstates the debt and does not provide adequate info for proper decision making (as if that is a desire).
A flat tax will be passed in this country some time in the 25th Century. Don't waste our political capital on that. The GOP can't even get a $1 billion bridge to nowhere out of the budget, much less get a flat tax passed.
Oh Lord! I can't think of a more pompous, disagreeable, jackass Republican than Bill Thomas!
Another idea....the Speaker of the Hosue does not have to be a sitting Congresscritter.....they should elect Dick Armey
Thomas does not support a flat sales tax. Furthermore, a sales tax is a kind of value added tax.
Bill Thomas used to be my representative before redistricting, and I liked him.
I especially remember his compassionate remarks immediately after the Capitol shooting deaths.
My husband thinks he will be another lightening rod like Tom DeLay and wants Blunt to be the Leader.
Never saw a piece of legislation that couldn't be turned into bacon for the western capitol of Oklahoma.
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