Taxes

I will oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and businesses. I will oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.


In Congress I will:


• Work to permanently repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax
• Vote to raise the personal exemption on dependents from the current $3500
• Vote to make permanent the 2001 tax rates and keep taxes low
• Fight any Democratic efforts to reinstate the marriage penalty tax
• Reform Estate Taxes
• Make it harder to raise taxes – require a 3/5 majority to raise ANY tax
• Vote to keep capital gains taxes rate low
• Support legislation to allow corporations to immediately deduct the cost of equipment, providing a valuable pro-growth investment incentive
• Vote to cut the corporate tax rate to 25 percent. America has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world and this is driving businesses and jobs overseas and contributing to job losses
• Vote to remove the 60,000 vehicle cap for the tax credit for purchasing a hybrid vehicle
• Vote to ban any new cell phone taxes
• Vote to ban any taxes on the internet


Republicans have been running on tax reform for a long time and yet, each election cycle the reality of real reform seems further away. The tax code, the anxiety and the time and costs it takes for compliance are not reflective of our American value. We must have fundamental change to our tax system.

We need a tax system that is simpler and fairer.

We need to have a dialogue at the federal, state, and local level about the funding of government and acknowledge the realities of what services government provides, at what level those services are provided and at what level taxes are used to pay for those services. It makes no sense to cut taxes on the federal level if it only means increasing taxes at the state or local level. That is just an unfair tax shift on the American public and is a part of the politics as usual game that I want to go to Washington to end.

I support a national sales tax, but we need to set a date certain for the end of the current tax code so that we don’t end up with both. I will support efforts to create a commission that would analyze the options for reform including the national sales tax, the flat tax, and any other innovative idea that may exist. This commission will report back to Congress and the American public its findings. We must look at transition costs and economic realities of the varying reform proposals. We can’t afford to increase the costs or hassle by making quick fixes that may shortchange our future.

We must have a tax policy that is fair to families and businesses and doesn’t cost billions in compliance to our taxpayers, small businesses and corporations. We must have a tax policy that allows for the flourishing of entrepreneurship, job growth, and innovation.