[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL DEBATE ON TAX CODE

  (Mr. PAXON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAXON. Mr. Speaker, the way this Congress balanced the budget was 
in 1994 in the Contract With America, we set the date on which we would 
balance the budget, 2002, then we began a great national debate on how 
we would accomplish that.
  My friends, we need to do the exact same thing in reforming our 
Federal Tax Code. Yesterday I filed legislation that would sunset the 
entire Federal Tax Code absent Social Security and Medicare effective 
December 31, 2000. That action by this Congress in giving the President 
that bill this year will begin a great national debate. We will have 
the opportunity to listen to the American people on whether they want a 
flat income tax, a national sales tax, a match tax proposed by the Cato 
Institute or some other approach.
  But the important thing is to begin that debate. But sunsetting the 
IRS Code, by passing that legislation this year, the debate can begin. 
The starting gun will go off. I think it will be a great experience to 
go to this country, to listen to the American people, to get their 
views. I hope my colleagues will join with me in this important 
historic national effort.

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