Taxes

"No taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant." George Washington, September 1796

While taxes are a necessary to fund such critical priorities as the

national defense and other programs, it doesn't change the fact that you've worked hard for your money and should be allowed to decide where that money should be spent. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that we're spending your money wisely and returning it to you when it has taken too much.

In fact, for 2006 Americans will receive an average refund of $2,394, up from $2,314 in 2005, while the average federal tax rate for a four-person family earning the median income – 13.1% – has been reduced to its lowest point since the 1960s.

Pro-growth conservative policies have driven the American economy over the last several years and have put more money back in the pockets of working families, right where it belongs. Over the last four year, tax cuts which were sponsored by the Republicans have facilitated economic growth while adding 7.5 million new jobs.

In general, the United States tax code is overly complicated. What we need is a system that the average taxpayer can understand and comply with. We need to ensure that taxes are equitable and don't place an undue burden on individuals or businesses.

To do this, we must control spending and ensure that the money we're spending is being spent wisely. While there are any number of worthwhile programs that deserve federal government spending, we don't have unlimited resources. Every dollar that Washington spends is from taxes taken from the American people. We have to establish priorities by budgeting responsibly and then living within that budget.

Important Legislation

H.J. Res. 1, Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution of the United States: I have co-sponsored legislation to prohibit spending for any fiscal year from that exceeds total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Introduced during the 110^th Congress, this bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R. 510, Tax Code Termination Act: The U.S. Tax Code has become entirely to complicated. I think everyone agrees with that. This bill, which I've co-sponsored, would eliminate our current tax code and require that any replacement should be a simple and fair system that meets the following 6 criteria: (1) applies a low rate to all Americans; (2) provides tax relief for working Americans; (3) protects the rights of taxpayers and reduces tax collection abuses; (4) eliminates the bias against savings and investment; (5) promotes economic growth and job creation; and (6) does not penalize marriage or families.