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| Hoffman calls for introduction of flat tax |
| 2009-10-24 |
| Congressional candidate Doug Hoffman said Thursday he would be willing to sacrifice a sizeable portion of his income if it meant the adoption of a simpler, fairer tax code. But if history is any indication, Hoffman won't be facing a loss of revenue any time soon. Hoffman, a certified public accountant who is the Conservative Party candidate for New York's 23rd Congressional District seat, called Thursday for replacing the current U.S. income tax with a flat tax. The move would greatly simplify the tax code, allowing people who are intimidated by the existing complex laws governing taxes to avoid having to pay professionals to prepare their tax returns, he said during a press conference across the street from the federal building in Syracuse, the home to the local office of the Internal Revenue Service. "The tax code that we have is so complex. ... It's basically corrupt," said Hoffman, who estimated that roughly half the business done by his accounting firm is helping taxpayers deal with the IRS. "We need a flat tax system in the United States." Hoffman is facing Democrat Bill Owens and Republican Dede Scozzafava in the race to succeed Republican John M. McHugh, who was named secretary of the Army earlier this year by President Barack Obama. The U.S. currently uses a progressive tax system, under which people who earn more money pay a greater percentage of their total income in taxes. A flat tax would have every wage earner pay the same percentage of their income in taxes - no matter how much or how little they earn. The flat tax would also eliminate deductions that are allowed under the current laws. Supporters of a flat tax argue that such a tax is fairer to everyone and would result in many people actually paying less in taxes than they do now. Because a flat tax is simple, more people would pay their taxes and the cost of overseeing the income tax system would decrease, they claim. Opponents argue that a flat tax places a disproportionate burden on lower- and middle-income wage earners. Hoffman said that because many people would pay less under a flat tax plan, more money would be available for investment in the businesses and industries that create jobs. "High taxes and complex government regulations and red tape stifles businesses," Hoffman said. Flat tax plans have been brought forth periodically in recent years, with little success. Democrat Jerry Brown included a flat tax proposal in his platform during his 1992 presidential bid. Republican Steve Forbes proposed a similar plan during his presidential bid four years later. Republican Richard Armey, who served as majority leader in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, championed the idea in the House and has continued to press the proposal since leaving office. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 and will badly cripple the livestock industry. hows that hope and change? |
| Posted by: bman 2009-10-24 12:08 |
| #2 EPA Pushing to Impose a Flatulence Tax on Cows and Hogs Old news already been proposed. |
| Posted by: Black Bart Shinetle1140 2009-10-24 08:24 |
| #1 Phew! I first read this as a flatuence tax. That would hurt. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-10-24 06:20 |