Bush bangs the drum...again...for a National Sales Tax

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

He's expressed "interest" in a National Sales Tax because the wealthy will have FAR more untaxed income after consuming that the average working man or woman.

John Kerry said "Every day will be like April 15th. Every trip to the supermarket will be like a trip to H&R Block." This was during the election. Bush denied his interest. Bush got re-selected and became interested again.

Dennis Hastert is a major supporter of a National Sales Tax, and said so in his book. He promoted the proposal's author, Rep. John Linder, to the House Ways & Means Committee so that he would be in a more favorable position to make this happen.

MAKE NO MISTAKE...When George W. Bush says he wants to "simplify the tax code so people can understand it, and so it helps achieve some objectives, which is fairness, simplicity, easy to understand," it is BUSH-SPEAK for a National Sales Tax.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050622.html

Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant
Lusby, Maryland

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 22, 2005

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/06/20050622.html

"Secondly, we need to do something about the tax code itself. It's complicated, it's really thick, it makes -- it does not reward entrepreneurship, it's unfair. So I called some Republicans and Democrats who care about this issue together. I said, come up with a plan to simplify the tax code so people can understand it, and so it helps achieve some objectives, which is fairness, simplicity, easy to understand. I mean, you shouldn't have to -- have to hire all kinds of folks to figure out what's in the tax code. And so once we get those recommendations, I look forward to working with Congress to not only keep your taxes low, but to make the code simple and easy to understand."



"President George W. Bush tours the turbine room of Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Lusby, Md., Wednesday, June 22, 2005. After his tour, the President spoke about energy and economic security to about 400 in attendance. White House photo by Paul Morse "

[DrGonzoLives]

1. So, Bush wants to increase taxes

Sounds like we have an issue to start running on.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. The Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform reports to Bush on 9/30

There was a story the other day about the original end-of-July date getting bumped to September 30th because of the plummeting numbers on the Iraq war and the need for Bush to do damage control.

The panel has received strong NEGATIVE feedback on a National Sales Tax...see my post below on the National Retail Federation...but I will GUARANTEE you that this makes the final cut of "recommendations" that go back to Bush.

[Medical Speaking]

2. Wishfull Thinking

Do you think this idiot will go against his big business buddies who uses the system not to pay taxes. Dream on

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

4. Bush wants this badly, and here's what appeals to him:

Retired people, unemployed people living on a nest egg...these are people who earned the money, paid income tax on it, and put it in the bank.

With a National Sales Tax, Bush will be able to "double dip"...take an additional 50% or more out of their savings when they spend.

WITHOUT a National Sales Tax: Savings are spent and taxed at the local sales tax rate.

WITH a National Sales Tax: Savings are spent and taxed at the local sales tax rate PLUS an additional 50% or more.

PLUS: Goods AND services will be taxed. Doctor visits, your rent, all will be taxed.

The National Retail Federation is ready to do battle on this:

http://www.nrf.com/content/default.asp?folder=press/release2005&file=NRST-comments.htm&bhcp=1

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2005 - The National Retail Federation today announced that it has filed comments with the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform urging the panel to reject economically risky proposals to replace the nation's income tax system with a consumption tax or to add a new consumption tax on top of existing taxes.

"The United States should not experiment with a brand new tax system that will put our economic future at risk," NRF said. "It is better to engage in substantial reforms of the income tax that are designed to eliminate some of the major complications in the current Internal Revenue Code and stimulate economic growth without causing major economic dislocation."

NRF's remarks came in response to proposals for tax reform that were presented to the Advisory Panel during a series of hearings this spring. The panel asked for public comments on the proposals last month. NRF on Friday submitted a detailed statement outlining the dangers of various consumption tax proposals. The statement addressed the National Retail Sales Tax proposed by Representative John Linder, R-Va., plans for a Value Added Tax similar to those used in Europe, and other consumption tax proposals.

The NRF statement cited a study commissioned by NRF in 2000 that found that a national sales tax would bring a three-year decline in the economy, a four-year decline in employment and an eight-year decline in consumer spending. The study showed that similar results could be expected if other types of consumption taxes were enacted to replace the current system. NRF argued that consumption taxes are inherently regressive because low-income families spend virtually their entire incomes while wealthier families have larger percentages of unspent income that would go untaxed.

[indepat]

3. Repugs never saw a more regressive tax scheme they did not like

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. My thoughts exactly. Another regressive tax

What a frigging bunch of assholes.

[Roland99]

6. Apply the tax to stock purchases, too. That'll stop it dead in its tracks.