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."
VAT scares me but NRST sounds like a good replacement for the IRS.
I'll believe it when I see it...
It is a great counter to the tax the rich slogan of the Dems.
That should get about 99% of the undecided and 50% of the democrats! What a great idea.
I can get behind this. Of course, it could just be another carrot.
(All your Senate are belong to us!)
Ha!
I LOVE IT.
It will NEVER happen. The tax lawyer lobby is too strong.
Of course we'll believe it when we see it--but it's on the table, which is historic.
Hopefully there is some truth in this.
A FLAT TAX 13% and NO deductions like in Russia is MUCH much better.....(that would tik off the lefties....ha ha)
I thought we got rid of the IRS, Dept of Education, big government beginning back in 1994.
Like Drango said, I'll believe when I see it. But in realizing the load of complying with tax laws as it is, the cost to the economy is about $108 Billion! Plus the inefficiency within the system!
This would be great, but I don't think it will happen. The accountants and attorneys make too much money as a result of a complex tax system.
You took the words right out of my mouth...I'll believe it when I see it. This is a classic teaser to solidify the base and draw in the independent, libertarian, other conservative vote.
Proof that this is a red herring? He's having Denny Hastert float it instead of someone inside the executive branch.
We should take odds on whether this ever sees the light of day in a Bush2 administration.
Yes! If Bush can pull off eliminating the IRS he will top my list of the greatest presidents.
Just as long as they don't trade one shell game in for another I'll happily jump onboard. It needs to be black & white, cut & dried for everybody. It'll need to be fair too for small businesses and corporations.
Are you not a legislature in a position of power?
If it will be difficult, then it is YOUR job to make it not so difficult!
Earn your wages!!!!
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