Given your interest in tax policy, I want to share comments that I submitted to the Congressional Record on the damaging tax increases Democrats in Congress have inflicted, and are proposing to inflict, on the American people. Today is Tax Day and it serves as an important reminder that the American people thrive when government reduces their tax burden and allows our nation’s families and small businesses the freedom to invest in their own prosperity. In sharp contrast, high taxes discourage work, investment and entrepreneurship, undermining economic growth and job creation in our nation.

Mr. Speaker, Tax Day is always a painful time for taxpayers, and it’s about to get a lot worse. This Democratic Congress has already enacted $670 billion in tax increases, including 14 different tax hikes that will hit middle-class families. Now, several of President Obama’s top advisors are saying America needs a European-style value-added tax. A VAT is a hidden tax on all production in our economy. It’s a regressive tax that will fall most heavily on the middle class. Adding a VAT to our current income tax would be taxpayers’ worst nightmare. This Tax Day, Congress should stand with hardworking Americans and say no to this new stealth tax.