Straight Talk with Sam: Tax Reform Needed

STRAIGHT TALK WITH SAM
Volume 5, Issue 2 January 10, 2005
Tax Reform Needed

As W-2 forms start to arrive in your paychecks and mailboxes this month you are probably wondering how much you will owe the government in taxes this year. If you feel overwhelmed or are just plain confused about how the government figures that tax, do not be alarmed. Albert Einstein, who had a knack for understanding complex things, once said "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax."

I believe that most Missourians are over-taxed. I also believe we spend too much time figuring out how much money we owe the government. Every year many of us seek help to prepare our tax returns simply because our nation's tax code is so large and complex that we don't have the time or expertise to do it ourselves.

From the Alternative Minimum Tax, which you pay if the government determines you haven't paid enough taxes, to the double taxation of dividends, our tax code is full of different rules for different groups. I think that is fundamentally unfair. America should have only one tax code and it ought to apply evenly to everyone.

In this session, Congress will look at ways to reform the tax code. I will support proposals that make the tax code simpler, fairer and promote economic growth. We need to find a solution that doesn't require you to spend on average 11 hours preparing a tax return. Your time and money are precious; I hope that a simpler tax code will let you enjoy a little bit more of both.

http://www.house.gov/graves/straighttalk/2005issue2.htm