L. Paxon: “the way this Congress balanced the budget was in 1994 in the Contract With America, we set the date on which we would…”

“the way this Congress balanced the budget was in 1994 in the Contract With America, we set the date on which we would balance the budget, 2002, then we began a great national debate on how we would accomplish that. My friends, we need to do the exact same thing in reforming our Federal Tax Code. Yesterday I filed legislation that would sunset the entire Federal Tax Code absent Social Security and Medicare effective December 31, 2000. That action by this Congress in giving the President that bill this year will begin a great national debate. We will have the opportunity to listen to the American people on whether they want a flat income tax, a national sales tax, a match tax proposed by the Cato Institute or some other approach. But the important thing is to begin that debate. But sunsetting the IRS Code, by passing that legislation this year, the debate can begin. The starting gun will go off. I think it will be a great experience to go to this country, to listen to the American people, to get their views. I hope my colleagues will join with me in this important historic national effort.”