Posted on 08/01/2004 6:08:53 PM PDT by NeoCaveman
A domestic centerpiece of the Bush/GOP agenda for a second Bush term is getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
The Speaker of the House will push for replacing the nation's current tax system with a national sales tax or a value added tax, Hill sources tell DRUDGE.
"People ask me if Im really calling for the elimination of the IRS, and I say I think thats a great thing to do for future generations of Americans," Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert explains in his new book, to be released on Wednesday.
"Pushing reform legislation will be difficult. Change of any sort seldom comes easy. But these changes are critical to our economic vitality and our economic security abroad," Hastert declares in SPEAKER: LESSONS FROM FORTY YEARS IN COACHING AND POLITICS.
"If you own property, stock, or, say, one hundred acres of farmland and tax time is approaching, you dont want to make a mistake, so youre almost obliged to go to a certified public accountant, tax preparer, or tax attorney to help you file a correct return. That costs a lot of money. Now multiply the amount you have to pay by the total number of people who are in the same boat. You cant. No one can because precise numbers dont exist. But we can stipulate that were talking about a huge amount. Now consider that a flat tax, national sales tax, or VAT would not only eliminate the need to do this, it could also eliminate the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) itself and make the process of paying taxes much easier."
"By adopting a VAT, sales tax, or some other alternative, we could begin to change productivity. If you can do that, you can change gross national product and start growing the economy. You could double the economy over the next fifteen years. All of a sudden, the problem of what future generations owe in Social Security and Medicare wont be so daunting anymore. The answer is to grow the economy, and the key to doing that is making sure we have a tax system that attracts capital and builds incentives to keep it here instead of forcing it out to other nations."
In its place will be the "Service of Internal Revenue". And it will, of course, be completely different from its predecessor...
There is no mention of repeal of the Sixteenth Ammendment. Without that the next tax, and spend, Dem controled congress will bring back the income tax on top of the national sales tax.
PING
Support a change. BIG TIME. This could be historic...and about 50 years past due.
Hey maybe even the illegals will get to pay some tax
I doubt that it will happen. Imagine all the I.R.S. brownshirts without a job. Tax accountants and tax attorneys out of work - it will be a tough sell.
Bush knows how to play Poker with the Rats.
That should get about 99% of the undecided and 50% of the democrats! What a great idea.
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Are you kidding? Remember all those Dims that do not pay a penny in income taxes or even get a negative income tax, they are automatically against this. With a sales tax everyone would have to pay their fair share. That is completely against every thing the Dims stand for which is tax Republicans not Dims.
Whoa! Go Denny!
Hear the Donkey Bray
(RealPlayer)
[Expletive deleted] !!!
Word up.
I agree. I've been urging President Bush to think big and make the elimination of the income tax and the IRS the centerpiece of a second term. Tie it all in with the "ownership society" theme and you have a picture of a country where you REALLY get to keep what you earn. Quite a dramatic contrast to the other side's "the government will fix all your problems" pitch. Its about time.
NRST!!!!
NRST PING!!
If they are *honestly* talking about a complete dismantling of the IRS, I'll gladly vote for Bush.
"NO....NOT a VAT...its added to EVERY transaction beween producer and consumer....and it REALLY really jacks up the price and adds to inflation (like in EU)."
EXACTLY!
"A FLAT TAX 13% and NO deductions like in Russia is MUCH much better.....(that would tik off the lefties....ha ha)"
I'm WITH YOU! A flat tax is best and NO deductions.
It will NEVER happen, the RATs will fillibuster it 'till the cows come home.
Nothing wrong with making the argument. How articulate can be Bush be on this one?
This is a truly stupid post by DRUDGE. Hastert can wish all he wants, it doesn't mean a damn thing. To say this is a "centerpiece of the Bush/GOP agenda" is idiotic.
I'm all in favor of a better tax system, and eliminating income tax, but until spending is brought under control it won't matter. Washington spends like a drunken sailor, and Congress and the Executive are both to blame. You cannot have a fiscally conservative tax policy and liberal social spending policies and balance the budget. Can't happen.
>>VAT scares me but NRST sounds like a good replacement for the IRS.
Agree. The VAT could destroy our manufacturing base. I prefer the NRST whereby "retail" includes imported goods and services.
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