Rod Grams: “87 years ago today, the Federal Government began collecting income tax. I rise not to celebrate the anniversary, but to…”

“87 years ago today, the Federal Government began collecting income tax. I rise not to celebrate the anniversary, but to condemn the occasion. What began as a simple flat tax on the revenue of a few has turned into a Pandora's box that devastates many. And so I take this opportunity today to strongly urge Congress to begin repealing the process of the constitutional amendment granting the Federal Government the power to tax, abolish the income tax, and replace it with a tax that is fairer, simpler, and friendlier to the taxpayers. The reasons for abolishing the Federal income tax are compelling. To begin with, the income tax has clearly violated the fundamental principles upon which this great Nation was founded. Mr. President, our country was born out of a tax revolt--a tax revolt built upon freedom and liberty. To preserve liberty, our Founding Fathers crafted an article in the Constitution unequivocally rejecting all direct income taxes that were not apportioned to each state by its population. During the following 100 years, this provision brought enormous economic opportunities and prosperity for America. Although Congress attempted to enact income taxes in the late 19th century, the Supreme Court repeatedly declared the income tax unconstitutional. As a result, between 1870 and 1913, before the income tax was levied, the U.S. economy expanded by over 435 percent in real terms.”