Byron Dorgan: “in just a couple of moments I wanted to make an observation about the topic of the week last week, and I expect the…”

“in just a couple of moments I wanted to make an observation about the topic of the week last week, and I expect the topic for the next couple of months, that will generate a lot of interest. That is the so-called flat tax, or the ``Grey Poupon plan,'' I call it. The flat tax is a fascinating one. I call it that because it is kind of entertaining, always, for someone who comes from a small town of 300 people to watch a debate between millionaires and billionaires about who can propose a tax plan that will allow investors to get to a zero tax rate the most quickly. We have the Armey plan, the Forbes plan, and some others. I just wanted to mention, in case people hear about flat taxes and they think, ``Gee, that sounds like a good idea, flat, curved, rolling hills, up or down,'' I mean, I do not know what the geometry of all of this is. But if you think that we should not allow a deduction for your home mortgage interest on your tax return, then you would really like the flat tax because the flat tax says you cannot deduct your home interest mortgage. If you think you ought to be required to take your fringe benefits, like your health insurance that your employer might provide and now start paying taxes on that, declare it as income and pay taxes, then you would really like the flat tax because that is what you would have to do.”