[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       LET'S ABOLISH THE TAX CODE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 1997

  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, this afternoon I joined my colleagues, Bill 
Paxon, Joe Scarborough, Senator Sam Brownback, and others to seriously 
discuss a repeal of the Tax Code. We agreed that the IRS and the Tax 
Code represent governmental arrogance at its highest level. It punishes 
the right things and rewards the wrong things. We need to shut down the 
IRS and put more money back into the hands of taxpayers.
  Common sense tells me that the IRS is far too large and intrusive. 
Consider that the IRS has more than 136,000 employees, while the INS 
has only 6,500 border patrol agents. That's about 20 times more people 
to take our money than to protect our borders. That's simply 
outrageous. The time has come to abolish the IRS.
  Mr. Speaker, improving the quality of life in America begins with 
letting families keep more of what they earn. In the last half century 
alone, the Federal Government's take from families has skyrocketed from 
only 5 to over 24 percent. Add taxes at the State and local level, and 
nearly half a family's take-home pay is spent just to keep government 
bureaucracies running. That's a sign of a nation headed in the wrong 
direction.
  Lowering taxes returns power to where it rightfully belongs, out of 
the hands of government and into the homes of families. Today, I am 
pleased that our colleagues in the Senate have joined us in support of 
serious tax reform. I hope every American will support our crusade to 
put more money in the hands of hard-working taxpayers.

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