Flat Tax
Posted at 10:45pm on Jun. 10, 2008 House GOP's Bold Economic Agenda
Earmark Moratorium, Flat Tax Among Policy Goals
By Bluey
House Republicans will unveil their economic agenda tomorrow with proposals to end earmarks, simplify the tax code and increase energy production. The GOP's agenda should excite conservatives, who will recognize many of the policy goals as long-sought objectives.
For the past 18 months in the minority, Republicans have struggled to unify around a specific set of policy goals. Their economic agenda comes one month after they promoted an "American Families Agenda." Two other policy plans will be unveiled in the coming months.
The centerpiece of the economic agenda is spending and tax reform. The proposal calls for an "immediate moratorium on congressional earmarks," which constitutes remarkable progress for House Republicans. The GOP was unable to arrive at that goal earlier this year following its retreat. But after pressure from Republican Study Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.), conservatives apparently won over Boehner, who has long opposed pork-barrel projects. (Note: Although this plan would impose a moratorium on future earmarks, conservatives are still insisting on one this year.)
On tax reform, Republicans are proposing a "two-tier flat tax system that can be filed on one page," a bold move that moves beyond tinkering with the existing tax code. While it certainly won't satisfy FairTax supporters, it differs drastically from anything Democrats have proposed. Americans will be dealt the largest tax increase in history if liberals have their way in Congress.
Other goals that are noteworthy include:
• Passing entitlement reform that addresses the problems facing Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
• Balancing the federal budget by 2012 without raising taxes.
• Prohibiting federal spending from growing faster than the economy.
• Extending the current welfare work requirements to food stamps and housing.
• Making portability a central component of health care reform.
Posted in Congress | Congress | Earmarks | Energy | Flat Tax | Republicans | Spending — Comments (49)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:30am on Apr. 16, 2008 We Should Want To Be Like Estonia
By Pejman Yousefzadeh
It is worth reflecting on and discussing the desperate need for fundamental tax reform every day, but on April 15th, we should take special note of the antediluvian nature of our tax system. I will take this opportunity to once again bring the splendid example of Estonia and its flat tax system to the attention of readers once again. Let's hope that Mart Laar's pessimism concerning America's ability to institute a flat tax system is unfounded. It's difficult to think of many other policy changes which, if implemented, will help raise revenue and economic growth so quickly and so comprehensively.
Relatedly, there is this. Be sure to check out the video:
Posted in Economy | Flat Tax | tax reform — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »
