Message of the Day

Scrap the Code

A new poll released this week by the Des Moines Register shows that forty-two percent of likely Republican caucus participants favor a flat tax, while 33 percent favor changes that basically keep the current tax structure in place. Sixteen percent want a national sales tax to replace the income tax. Des Moines Register poll.

As we move closer to the first in the nation caucuses and primaries, voters are telling candidates it is time to scrap the code. A clear majority of Republican voters (58 percent) want to scrap the code — and by a wide margin these voters favor a flat tax that is simple, fair, low and honest.

While no candidate is perfect, each of the leading Republican campaigns’ is advancing the cause of “Scrapping the Code.”

As we move closer to the first in the nation caucuses and primaries, voters are telling candidates it is time to scrap the code. A clear majority of Republican voters (58 percent) want to scrap the code

Governor George W Bush proposes a substantial reduction in income taxes and eliminates the death tax and the marriage penalty. His $483 billion tax cut moves in the right direction of simplifying the code. The Governor’s plan would be improved if he would call for a permanent ban on Internet Taxation because nothing would become more complicated than trying to tax commerce over the Internet.

Senator John McCain has told CSE that he wants to scrap the code and said, “I believe taxes are too high and the tax code too complex. The federal tax code is a 44,000 page catalogue of favors for special interests and a chamber of horrors for the rest of America.” While his rhetoric is to be commended – and helps build momentum for the idea – his plan falls short in substance. It raises too many taxes and widens the disparity between the top rate and the lowest rate. On the other hand, his bold stand on calling for a permanent ban on Internet taxation will keep the tax code from becoming cyber-complicated.

Steve Forbes has proposed a 17 percent flat tax. By talking about the issue for the past five years he has done more to advance the cause of scrapping the code and educating the American people about the problems with the IRS. He too, has called for a permanent ban on Internet taxation.