U.S. Congress - H.R.25 Fair Tax Act of 2009
H.R.25 - Fair Tax Act of 2009
To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States. view all titles (2)
All Bill Titles
- Short: Fair Tax Act of 2009 as introduced.
- Official: To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States. as introduced.
Bill's Views
- Today: 337
- Past Seven Days: 2,377
- All-Time: 110,340
89%
Users Support Bill
2599 in favor / 306 opposed
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Displaying 1-30 of 220 total comments.
The Tax Code in America has become such a twisted mess that it is more farce than force. Loopholes, tax credits, number of fingers on your right hand, whatever. It's thousands of pages only succeed in making a simple concept confusing. We need this bill to bring some real common sense to our tax policy in America. Please do what you can to support this bill.
I definitely support this bill, although I doubt it can get enough support in Congress. I wish there was something we could do to help the bill. Any suggestions?
I am going to contact my representatives and also try to contact grassrootscampaigns.com and see if they can help.
Agreed. Sadly, this will probably die an unheralded death. The sponsor, as well as his 51 co-sponsors are all Republican. Though I've touted this idea for some time, I doubt that there would be enough bipartisan support to get this passed despite the common sense of the bill.
Well let's all just throw in the towel, shall we?
Who elects these people? We do. Who do we need to contact about this? Those people we elected. It's not up to them to let it die. It's up to us.
I've been following this bill for several years since it was first introduced. Unfortunately, outside of Georgia, where the bill's sponsor is from, it doesn't get much play. I would absolutely solve the current crisis. It is the most researched piece of legislation ever introduced to congress. It is revenue neutral (would generate the same income to the govt as the current system) based on current taxpayers. None of the estimates include the "pickup" from illegal aliens or international tourists, which would all become part of the "tax base".
See more info and background at www.fairtax.org.
Dwhee87,
I have followed this bill for years here in Florida where there are several very active groups who meet regularly to promote and educate the people about the Fair Tax. This bill MUST be put to a vote by the people...
Apparently Big Sister (Janet Napolitano) is watching this and all other forms of sedition, that includes concern over legislation.
http://images.logicsix.com/DHS_RWE.pdf
this is only a joke so far, but every joke has a bit of truth.
Way to go John, keep putting this up for all to see and when we wipe out the current liberal majority in 2010 put it up again with a veto proof majority and make BO veto it and then stuff it back in his face. This is the tax policy we need to revive the power of our national economy......
This would be a hell of a stimulus package. The government would get equal revenue and the US Economy would explode with growth.
I agree, it would be a big stimulus and too generous a percentage (23%) but was got to start somewhere. This is a good start if it gets a start by passing in both houses.
I may be the only progressive Democrat who supports this bill. I've read the arguments and I can't see how at minimum it could possibly be worse than our current tax code. Our current system, which originally purported to be a "progressive" system of taxation, is in reality the most regressive system imaginable. It's been amended and expanded and tinkered with beyond all recognition, resulting in one giant mess, an almost self-sustaining drain on both the poor and businesses alike. The amounts spent on trying to work on your taxes, pay for legal help with taxes, time spent on planning for taxes, etc., all add up to completely unproductive spending!
As some evidence of what a joke our tax code is, note the recent flaps around two prominent political appointees to Obama's cabinet. Even the rich and powerful can't keep track of their taxes, and the rest of the county has a bit of secret sympathy, since most of us can't figure out our taxes without expensive software or a tax accountant anyway.
Both the right and the left have reason to support a Fair Tax system, to some degree for very different reasons. On the right it's seen not only as a stimulus for business, but also as a way of getting the government out of an individual's personal financial business. The left should be supportive because the system would guarantee an exemption for the very poor, in fact the Fair Tax proposes outright checks sent to poor families to guarantee that the tax would not be a burden to them. (Personally I think a card-credit system would make a whole lot more sense, something like a credit card, or food stamp cards that are now beginning to be used instead of the old paper stamps.)
And as someone who has lived long enough to see just too many executives get away with paying no taxes and living quite well, at the same time that those on unemployment, poor seniors, and those with almost no income still have to pay taxes just because they don't have expensive lawyers or lobbyists, I think it's time for a change.
Realistically though, with the current chaos and worry over the mess in the banking system and the overall focus on saving the economy, I don't think legislators will want to risk such a dramatic change in that system while we're teetering on this economic precipice. But I hope that if and when things calm down that attention will come back to this bill.
I disagree that we should wait until things calm down to bring attention to this bill. In the words of Rahm Emanuel, "Rule one: Never allow a crisis to go to waste". It is in the crisis that we are passing bills with unknown dollar figures that have no real impact on fostering a recovery and limiting the pain of the correction. Why not, instead, push for a bill that would strengthen citizen's liberties and lessen the politics that could be played with individual's money. Instead of sacrificing the future, let us work towards the future.
This would most certainly make millions of Americans happier than they may think. The problem with this bill is stated at the end of your comment. "a bill that would strengthen citizen's liberties and lessen the politics that could be played with individual's money"... This is EXACTLY what the current political powers that be want to avoid! They want sheep not citizens.
Let us keep our money and everyone pay what's fair.
Nice intentions, but why not simply abolish the income tax and replace it with... nothing?
It's completely doable. For one, the income tax only accounts for 45% of the government's income. Secondly, 2006's budget was 58% larger than 2000's budget. So I say we cut spending back to 2000 levels, then abolish the income tax.
That math doesn't work out properly, but I admire your idea and would vote for you for economic dictator of the country
Talk about the ultimate stimulus, how about taking home 100% of your gross pay.
There are a lot of logistics that need to be worked out, and certainly this program would need to be phased in as it represents substantial change; however, perhaps this is where we should be spending our effort to support productivity, promote saving, and attract both domestic and foreign business. The current tax code is an unnecessary waste of time and money.
The tax code has become such a twisted mess written by attorneys/politican who screw up their taxes.
This is so dooable and simple.
IF you do not buy anything, you do not pay. IF you buy you pay. They do it in Europe and it works.
Europeans have an income tax...
And a VAT tax too.
I would be happy to support this bill if it weren't for that nagging voice in the back of my head that say's "If this passes you'll get both the 23% sales tax and the income tax and property tax and etc, etc, etc. The federal budget is a large beast with mouths (PACs) to feed.
Europeans have always had tax on their income. Where are you getting your information?
The IRS is the "APRON STRING" that would be cut-I like this idea. This would be fair and balanced for everyone. The TAX CODE is not understood by anyone and is easily manipulated as we have seen in the recent past.
The politicians who do the bidding of the special interest groups in exchange for tax favors will fight tooth and nail to keep H.R. 25 from going anywhere.
This bill would put the power back where it belongs...in the hands of the people! We have to let our elected representatives know that their reelection depends on their support of the Fair Tax.
Simple math at work here:
Representatives who support this bill = representatives with a legitimate interest in bolstering the economy and restoring some level of personal freedom.
Representatives who oppose this bill = power brokers who do not want to relinquish the level of control held by the federal government.
Beautifully stated; brought a tear of hope to my eye!
This bill is an excellent correction to the current system. It's tough enough to try and save as much as possible while using the 60-75% of income that makes it back to me after state and federal income taxes.
I would much rather pay tax if and when I choose to consume rather than automatically, and regardless of what fiscal decisions I make. The reduced administrative burden of not having to maintain a complex tax code with a huge organization such as the IRS would also be a great bonus.
So America cqan be America again?!? YAY!
I think this idea has potential, but I have one problem with it. When people get scared, they stop spending, which would have the potential to spiral into a much bigger, uncontrollable problem for the government with the debt we're in. This should only be implemented if and when the deficit is eliminated.
It's a good point, but nothing is scarier than when the feds have more control over the inner workings of everything and a say as to how the banks operate and how much money we as individuals are allowed to have. Courage would find its way into everyone's pocketbook with 100% take-home.
As an addendum, as a smoker myself I celebrate the future day when everyone pays ridiculously high taxes on consumerist items... It is still a step up from the horrendous system in place. Bravo Republicans for submitting this bill 9 years running