Andrea Joy Campbell: “on the subject of tax freedom day, there is a serious proposal being advanced by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Archer]…”

“on the subject of tax freedom day, there is a serious proposal being advanced by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Archer], the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, that we do away with the Federal income tax on individuals entirely. I think this is long overdue, and let me take a moment and explain why it is so important. Mr. Speaker, suppose instead of talking about all the loopholes that we are going to close, and all of the small changes we are going to make here, and the tweaks and turns we are going to make, suppose we remove from the American public once and for all the burden of filling out that 1040 form; the burden of partnerships and subchapter S corporations, structuring their business in such a way as to avoid having to do this or that under our IRS; and get rid of the intrusiveness of the IRS into our personal lives. Where would we make up the revenue? Well, the proposal would be to bury the personal income tax. Do not dare keep it alive, because if we put something else in place, Lord knows we will have both. But if we bury the personal income tax and instead raise money from a national consumption tax, here is how it could work. Mr. Speaker, we could exempt food and rent and medicines. As a result, we really would not tax the poor at all. For all other goods and services in our country, we would have a tax rate of under 19 percent. Now, is 19 percent high? Sure. Would I rather have it lower? Of course I would. But, Mr.…”