Americans for Tax Reform's Tax Day Press Conference  ...2 of 2 >
April 10, 2014 - Nine members of Congress spoke at Americans for Tax Reform's Tax Day press conference at the Capitol Visitors Center.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) declared that, "We have an opportunity this year to reform the tax code to make it simpler and fairer for our working families."
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), chairman of Republican Study Committee, said that the budget introduced by President Obama "never gets to balance."  Scalise noted that Obama somehow manages to fill out his NCAA basketball tournement brackets on time, but seems unable to submit a budget on time.
Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has been leading an effort to bring about comprehensive tax reform (+).  Eleven working groups have been considering different areas of tax law, and three discussion drafts have been introduced thus far, the most recent on March 12 addressing taxes on small businesses.  Camp announced on March 31 that he is not seeking re-election in 2014.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) deplored the 14-million word tax system.  "It shouldn't be this complicated," she said.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is in position to become chairman of the Senate Finance Committee if Republicans gain the majority in November.  He noted that, "We haven't reformed our tax code in 28 years."
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) decried IRS targeting of conservative groups as "an attack on the First Amendment rights of our citizens."  In February Roberts and Sen. Flake (R-AZ) introduced the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act (S.2011).  There is "a fox in the chicken coop," Roberts said, accusing the administration of "trying to dodge and weave its way out of this."
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) argued that, "Revenue neutral tax reform is a waste of time. To create jobs you need to cut taxes."
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said that, "We're not under-taxed...the problem is spending."
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX).  Referring to the tax reform effort led by Rep. Camp, Brady said, "You've never truly had a love-hate relationship until you've done tax reform."
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