flat tax
<div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">neglected</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">some GOP cand ran on?</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"></font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">===</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div class="body js-expandable clearfix js-listicle-body css-listicle-body-2659314814"><div class="body-description"><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
<b>A House GOP proposal to repeal all federal income taxes—including
levies on corporations and the rich—and replace them with a whopping 30%
national sales tax is drawing increasingly vocal backlash from
economists, tax policy experts, and Democratic lawmakers who say the
plan is yet another Republican ploy to reward the wealthy at everyone
else's expense </b></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> Unveiled <a href="https://buddycarter.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=10824" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">earlier this month</a>
by Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), the Fair Tax Act is hardly a novel piece
of legislation. As Steve Wamhoff of the Institute on Taxation and
Economic Policy noted in a recent <a href="https://itep.org/fair-tax-plan-would-abolish-irs-shift-federal-taxes-from-wealthy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">blog post</a>,
the bill has its <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">origins in a proposal<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);"><b> "initially pitched by an
organization created by the Church of Scientology during its dispute
with the IRS over whether it constituted a church and was thus
tax-exempt." </b></span></span></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> "The Church of Scientology's only goal in the
matter was to eliminate the agency causing it trouble, and lost interest
once the IRS threw in the towel and allowed it to present itself as a
church," Wamhoff explained. "But by then several politicians had bought
into the idea and introduced it as legislation, which has been
reintroduced in each Congress since as the Fair Tax." </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> <b>Carter's legislation, which currently has nearly two dozen House GOP <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/25/cosponsors?r=18&s=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">co-sponsors</a>,
would abolish the IRS—a major gift to wealthy tax cheats—and eliminate
the payroll taxes that finance Medicare and Social Security.</b> The bill
would also nix the individual income tax, the corporate income tax, the
estate tax, and other taxes, establishing in their place a sales tax of
30% for calendar year 2023. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> "The GOP's so-called 'Fair Tax'
proposal is one of the most regressive proposals in a generation,
imposing a 30% federal sales tax on everything Americans buy from gas to
food," <a href="https://twitter.com/RBReich/status/1617316939491147776" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">said</a>
former <b>U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich. "There's nothing 'fair' about
it. It would punish the poor and middle class while helping the rich." </b></font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In an attempt to offset the inherent regressivity of the sales tax,
Carter's bill would send most U.S. households a monthly "prebate" to
help families cover the costs of basic necessities—effectively replacing
the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and other existing
tax benefits that the measure would eliminat</span>e. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> But Wamhoff
argued the prebates would not be "nearly enough to offset the financial
hit most Americans would face from the new national sales tax." </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
"Back in 2004, ITEP estimated that if the Fair Tax was enacted and the
national sales tax rate was set at 45%, the poorest 80% of Americans
would face net tax hikes from the proposal while most of those among the
richest 20% would enjoy net tax cuts," Wamhoff wrote. "ITEP plans to <a href="https://itep.org/the-effects-of-replacing-most-federal-taxes-with-a-national-sales-tax/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">re-estimate</a> the proposal because a great deal has changed since 2004." </font></p><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> In a detailed <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7FCxbSPvaw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">video analysis</a> of the "Fair Tax" plan, Matt Bruenig of the<b> People's Policy Project</b> <a href="https://youtu.be/N7FCxbSPvaw?t=1587" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">estimated</a>
that the poorest 20% of the U.S. public would pay roughly 70% of their
income in taxes as a result of the bill's levy on consumption. [vid]</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
</font></div><div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Democratic lawmakers and President Joe
Biden have wasted no time seizing on the tax proposal as further
evidence of the Republican Party's commitment to delivering huge
windfalls to the rich. </font></div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> "The GOP wants to scrap the income tax and replace it with a 30% sales tax," <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJayapal/status/1618300289919946758" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">tweeted</a>
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the chair of the Congressional
Progressive Caucus. "In WA State, where we have no income tax and rely
on sales and excise taxes, the poorest families spend 17% of their
income on taxes. The wealthiest spend 3%. This effort is a tax cut for
the rich, period." </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJeffMerkley/status/1618343824534966272" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">quipped</a> on Wednesday that "it really must be Opposite Day if Republicans are claiming that a national 30% sales tax is 'fair.'" </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
"In what world is it fair to slam working families with huge tax
increases, while giving tax breaks to the mega-rich?" Merkley asked. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
On Thursday afternoon, Biden is expected to attack the GOP tax proposal
as well as the Republican push to cut Social Security and Medicare in a
speech at a steamfitters union hall in Springfield, Virginia. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
"The president will outline the biggest threat to our economic progress:
House Republicans' MAGA economic plan," an unnamed White House official
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-attack-house-republicans-economic-speech-2023-01-26/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">told</a><em>Reuters</em> ahead of the address. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
With Democrats in control of the Senate and the White House, the Fair
Tax Act has no chance of becoming law, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy
(R-Calif.) only agreed to allow hearings on the legislation as part of
the speakership deal he struck with far-right GOP holdouts. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> But
progressives argued the proposal offers a telling glimpse into the
Republican Party's extreme economic priorities at a time of <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022/12/21/fueling-inequality-earnings-top-01-us-have-soared-465-1979-analysis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">skyrocketing inequality</a>, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/corporations-trump-tax-law" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">large-scale corporate tax avoidance</a>, and <a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/the-nation-has-made-progress-against-poverty-but-policy-advances" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="rm-stats-tracked">economic hardship</a> for poor and middle-class households. </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">
"MAGA extremists are testing the waters to see how far they can go in
their backwards economic agenda written by and for wealthy special
interests—starting with a staggering 30% tax hike on the middle class
with a national sales tax that would immediately make necessities
unaffordable while letting greedy corporations off scot-free from any
tax responsibility," Liz Zelnick, director of the Economic Security and
Corporate Power program at Accountable.US, said in a statement Thursday.
</font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> “That's only the beginning," Zelnick continued. “A growing
chorus in the Republican House caucus is scheming to sabotage the
economy and the U.S. government's full faith and credit unless they get
deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare benefits that keep millions of
Americans out of poverty and in better health." </font></p><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">"When MAGA
extremists openly threaten to push the economy off the cliff unless they
can f<b>urther enrich billionaires and big corporations</b> at the expense of
everyone else," she added, "believe them." </span></font></p></div>
</div><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">===</font></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">* = original<br /></font></div></div><div><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/25/cosponsors?r=18&s=1#" id="withdrawnCosponsorsToggle" name="withdrawnCosponsors"> cosponsors who withdrew</a> </font></p>
<table class="item_table"><tbody id="withdrawnTbody"><tr><td class="actions"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/blake-moore/M001213">Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]</a></font>
</td><td class="date"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td><td class="date"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/24/2023</font></td><td class="string crExplanationColumn"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-169/issue-15/house-section/article/H267-2" target="_blank">H267</a></font></td></tr></tbody></table><p><font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/25/cosponsors?r=18&s=1#" id="withdrawnCosponsorsToggle" name="withdrawnCosponsors" /><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/25/cosponsors?r=18&s=1#" id="withdrawnCosponsorsToggle" name="withdrawnCosponsors" /></font></p>
<table class="item_table"><thead><tr><th scope="col" class="actions"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">cosponsor</font></th><th scope="col" class="date"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">Date Cosponsored</font></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Clyde, Andrew">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/andrew-clyde/C001116">Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Duncan, Jeff">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jeff-duncan/D000615">Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Cammack, Kat">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/kat-cammack/C001039">Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Perry, Scott">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/scott-perry/P000605">Rep. Perry, Scott [R-PA-10]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Good, Bob">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bob-good/G000595">Rep. Good, Bob [R-VA-5]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Massie, Thomas">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/thomas-massie/M001184">Rep. Massie, Thomas [R-KY-4]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Norman, Ralph">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/ralph-norman/N000190">Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Posey, Bill">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bill-posey/P000599">Rep. Posey, Bill [R-FL-8]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Palmer, Gary">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gary-palmer/P000609">Rep. Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL-6]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Banks, Jim">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/jim-banks/B001299">Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Loudermilk, Barry">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/barry-loudermilk/L000583">Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]*</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-09"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/09/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Carter, John">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-carter/C001051">Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Bilirakis, Gus">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/gus-bilirakis/B001257">Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Gaetz, Matt">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/matt-gaetz/G000578">Rep. Gaetz, Matt [R-FL-1]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Greene, Marjorie">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/marjorie-greene/G000596">Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Rutherford, John">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/john-rutherford/R000609">Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Davidson, Warren">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/warren-davidson/D000626">Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Steube, W.">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/w-steube/S001214">Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Donalds, Byron">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/byron-donalds/D000032">Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-11"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/11/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Collins, Mike">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/mike-collins/C001129">Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-13"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/13/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Moore, Barry">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/barry-moore/M001212">Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-2]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-13"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/13/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Burlison, Eric">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/eric-burlison/B001316">Rep. Burlison, Eric [R-MO-7]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-13"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/13/2023</font></td></tr><tr><td class="actions" data-text="Walberg, Tim">
<font size="4" face="Times New Roman"><a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/tim-walberg/W000798">Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]</a></font>
</td><td class="date" data-text="2023-01-24"><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">01/24/2023</font></td></tr></tbody></table><font size="4" face="Times New Roman">===<br /></font></div>