Posted on 04/15/2010 5:56:16 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
Republican Tim Burns (PA-12) is once again going out of his way to prove that he is grossly out of touch with Western Pennsylvania. The latest example is particularly telling; despite the fact that middle class families are already struggling, Burns has endorsed a risky and radical plan deceivingly called the “Fair Tax” that would enact a 23 percent national sales tax on all goods and services including food and clothing. The plan would dramatically increase the tax burden for middle class families while only benefiting the wealthiest Americans like Tim Burns. In Pennsylvania, middle income Pennsylvanians would see their taxes increase by $3,818 per year while the top one percent of earners would see their taxes cut by $187,080 a year.
Tim Burns and his support for this radical tax plan reinforces what everyone already knew about him: the millionaire is out of touch and his personal bank account is the only thing he really cares about. Prior to backing this radical tax plan that solely benefits the wealthiest Americans like himself, Burns sold his company to get rich despite knowing it could lead to layoffs in Western Pennsylvania.
“Tim Burns represents exactly what Western Pennsylvania can’t afford right now in Congress: a self serving, out of touch millionaire who only cares about his own bank account,” said Shripal Shah, Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Tim Burns’ radical tax increase plan would have a devastating impact on the middle class. It’s unconscionable that after already showing he could care less about Western Pennsylvania jobs, Tim Burns now wants to implement a tax policy that increases the tax burden on middle class families to benefit the wealthy.”
Background
In a May 2009 interview on Front Lines Blog, Tim Burns stated his support for the regressive Fair Tax. “I would love to ultimately see the Fair Tax implemented,” said Burns. [Front Lines Blog, 5/14/09]
According to Americans for Fair Taxation, the group that is backing the effort to impose a Fair Tax, the tax would apply to all goods and services sold at retail. In a summary of the proposal, the group noted that the 23 percent sales tax would replace the individual income tax, payroll taxes, the corporate income tax, the self-employment tax, and the estate tax. [Americans for Fair Taxation]
According to Factcheck.org, under the Fair Tax, everybody earning between $15,000 and $200,000 per year would pay more per year while those earning more than $200,000 would see their overall tax burden decrease. In Pennsylvania, middle income Pennsylvania families would see their taxes increase by $3,818 per year. The top one percent would see their taxes cut by $187,080 a year. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy; Factcheck.org, 5/31/07]
In 2002, Burns said he supported NDCHealth buying his company TechRx despite the fact that he knew it could lead to layoffs in Western Pennsylvania. [Pittsburgh Business Times, 5/31/02]
They are also exclusively referring to him as "Millionaire Tim Burns". What's next....nicknaming him "Monty" and using clips from The Simpsons? Sadly this is time-tested here in PA. Grandma and Grandpa Retired Union Member will see this ad and freak out, then go rushing straight for the Democrat Party Straight Ticket handle at the nearest polling place.
Commercials just like this were used with great effect by James Carville to get Bobby Casey's dad elected Governor.
In my opinion we should put tax reform on the back burner and put all our energies into reducing Federal spending and power.
This does demonstrate the great difficulty of adopting ideas like the Fair Tax, no matter how much sense they may make. The Dems will just demagogue the living tar out if it. Then we end up not even getting modest improvements.
It bothers me that the Dems would distort the Fair Tax along with the canidate. So sad.
Yeah, and the DCCC would push the peddle to the metal to get a VAT tax passed,.while keeping the income tax
this presser does not even begin to do justice to how misleading the TV spot is
I believe it is to prepare us for the "equity" of a VAT tax that hits those that do not pay income tax harder than those that do (a regressive tax in the DemonRat parlance). Of course they will also provide a "prefund" for the poorest just to keep them on the plantation.
Yes, they think we are that ignorant.
I’m afraid the democrats would love the fair tax - on top of every other tax. Have you ever seen a tax a democrat didn’t love?
If nothing else point out that the Fair Tax would mean the demise of over 100,000 IRS employees. I have no idea why the Fair Tax proponents don’t work that angle. We don’t need 100,000 IRS agents. Fire them all and put 25,000 new BP at the border.
The government’s lust for money knows no limit, BTW. I still recall when Texas first passed a sales tax. The promise was: never will get above 3%! Well now the state rate is 6.5% plus an addition 2% in many locales.
This completely distorts the Fair Tax proposal. The ‘23%’ tax increase on all retail products is already built into the price of everything we purchase so when the Fair Tax is instituted there is no net increase in prices since companies don’t have to push the cost of their income taxes to the consumer. Point is that everyone is already paying the 23% increase in price through the corporate taxes. Typical of Democrats to paint it this way and typical of Republicans to let the Democrats get away with it.
IMO if the dhimmis want to defend the IRS let them, tie it and the current tax code around their necks.
I can envision an ad where the current code , all 27,000 pages, are hauled into view on a forklift! An announcer explains some of the astonishing costs of compliance and the byzantine mechanics of it, not to mention the curruption of the politcal process it engenders.
These are easy and devasting points. Burns can make the case in 60 seconds!
This completely distorts the Fair Tax proposal. The ‘23%’ tax increase on all retail products is already built into the price of everything we purchase so when the Fair Tax is instituted there is no net increase in prices since companies don’t have to push the cost of their income taxes to the consumer.Even if that were a fact (It isn't, it's mathematically impossible), how does maintaining what we are already paying in the price of everything we buy replace all of the other taxes they propose to eliminate? Where is the logic in that?
The 23% Fairtax isn't a 23% increase it would have to be a 30% increase. The Fairtax is tax inclusive..
A pre-tax price of $100.00 would be a tax inclusive price of $129.87...
$29.87 is 23% of $129.87
See my tag line.
i would tend to disagree. I think the voracious apetite for revenue must be dealt a serious blow, as it is the genesis of so much that is wrong with government at all levels.
Crucify the IRS Boogyman and distribute monthly cradle to grave Social Security checks to all Americans while beligerantly accusing critics of being "marxists".
The "Fair Tax" should be used as a litmus test.
Any candidate supporting that abomination should be eliminated from consideration. Period.
I think the voracious apetite for revenue must be dealt a serious blow,
I think that without serious changes to the way taxes are raised, collected, and allocated, anything else we do will come to naught.
The fact that the government feels entitled to half of my income is what needs to change. It is this entitlement mindset on the part of both the government and far to much of the citizens of this country that is one of our biggest obstacles.
Chet Edwards ran the same bunk here in Texas. Made it seem like grocery bills would go up from $100 to $130, without explaining that there would be no income tax. That is the dem meme (rhymes!), pretend that fair tax is in addition to what already exists.
But Texas has no income tax, right? I know they have high property taxes, and moderate sales taxes, but was told they dont’ have an income tax.
I could see how that would be a tough sell in TX unless the property taxes or sales taxes were going to be reduced by some equivalent percentage.
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