[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 35 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H1453]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TIME TO SCRAP AMERICAN TAX CODE

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, an American who goes abroad can brag about a 
lot of things about our country, but one thing he cannot brag about is 
the American Tax Code.
  Mr. Speaker, just look at what has happened over the last 75 years. 
Back in 1913, the Tax Code was 14 pages. Now it is 3,500 pages. From 14 
pages to 3,500 pages. That is not progress in my book. The Tax Code is 
3,500 pages of incomprehensible regulations, exemptions, loopholes and 
other absurdities just to figure out how much we, as citizens, owe 
Uncle Sam.
  I suspect that an American who goes abroad will have a long list of 
things to be proud of, but that list will not include our Tax Code. The 
Tax Code is not logical. It is virtually incomprehensible and it is not 
fair. It is time to scrap the Tax Code in favor of a simple, low tax 
rate that will be the envy of the world.

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