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Linder Leads Bipartisan Group in Encouraging President to Reform Tax Code

Letter Authored by Linder and Sent to Treasury Secretary is Signed by 5 Democrats and 14 Republicans


October 23, 2002


Congressman John Linder (R-Georgia) this week sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill asking that he encourage President Bush to make fundamental reform of the federal tax code a top priority during the next two years, after recent reports that the Secretary would make recommendations for tax reform to the President in the coming weeks. The letter was signed by 14 Republican and 5 Democrat Members of the House of Representatives.

“Americans have struggled with economic difficulty for more than a year, yet tax complexity alone continues to cost Americans more than $250 billion a year in compliance costs. Fundamental tax reform could reduce these costs, and thus provide tax relief, without compromising government revenue in the least,” Linder wrote to O’Neill. Polls have shown that a clear majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the current tax system and believe it needs a major overhaul, Linder wrote.

“Clearly, U.S. taxpayers are ready for a change. We encourage you to make fundamental tax reform one of the Bush Administration’s highest priorities for the next two years. We must show the American people that we recognize that relief brought about by tax reform is vital to Americans and our economy,” the letter continued.

Also signing the letter were Representatives Todd Akin (R-Missouri), Chris Cannon (R-Utah), Michael Castle (R-Delaware), Bud Cramer (D-Alabama), Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), John Doolittle (R-California), Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), Gil Gutknecht (R-Minnesota), Ralph Hall (D-Texas), Jane Harman (D-California), Jim Matheson (D-Utah), Sue Myrick (R-North Carolina), Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida), Bob Schaffer (R-Colorado), John Shadegg (R-Arizona), Mark Souder (R-Indiana), and Charles Stenholm (D-Texas).

Linder is the chief sponsor of H.R. 2525, the FairTax, a bill to abolish the IRS and all income taxes, payroll taxes, death taxes, and capital gains taxes, in favor of a fair and simple national retail sales tax. The idea has garnered interest from the Bush Administration, and Linder has had several meetings with Secretary O’Neill on the subject. Linder is scheduled to address the national convention of Americans for Fair Taxation in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 9th.



October 2002 Press Releases