Pete Stark: “I adamantly oppose H.R. 4199, a bill to sunset the current Internal Revenue Code without a replacement plan. It is…”

“I adamantly oppose H.R. 4199, a bill to sunset the current Internal Revenue Code without a replacement plan. It is completely ludicrous to bring legislation to the floor that will eliminate the only Tax Code the U.S. Government has to collect revenue and pay for entitlements and various programs. This bill suggests to the American people that in four years, the 108th Congress will come up with a plan to replace the current system, but there are no guarantees. The bill before us today is irresponsible, negligent and hypocritical. I. irresponsible--no need for a commission Last year's failed Medicine Commission provides ample evidence that the last thing Congress needs is another commission upon which to place its responsibility. This bill hands over the responsibility to tax U.S. income to yet another commission. Congress already has an 'in-House' commission to address problems with the current Tax Code--it's called the Ways and Means Committee. But the Committee on Ways and Means didn't hold a hearing or a markup on the bill before us today. In fact, we've had hearings all week on fundamental tax reform yet H.R. 4199 was never brought before the Committee. It's high time the leadership stops the charade and works in a bipartisan fashion to address critical problems facing working Americans.”