[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S81]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NATIONAL SALES TAX

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on the Republican national sales tax, the 
House Republicans keep churning this stuff out. It is unbelievable. In 
the 118th Congress, it is already a tale of two parties: Democrats 
united on one side, Republicans in chaos on the other.
  While Democrats are laser-focused on making life better for everyday 
families, Republicans are making it clear they want to help the very, 
very wealthy--the ultrarich. While Democrats want to embrace 
collaboration and bipartisanship wherever possible, Republicans seem to 
be trapped by MAGA extremism. That is the contrast in a nutshell: 
Democratic unity versus Republican chaos, Democratic unity versus 
Republican chaos.

  Yesterday, I joined with President Biden, the Vice President, Leader 
Jeffries, and Democratic colleagues from both Chambers to talk about 
how we Democrats can maintain our unity and turn it into action in 
order to help the American people.
  Later today, I will join with Leader Jeffries to further highlight 
the contrast between Democrats' ``people first'' agenda and 
Republicans' radical plans--radical plans--for a national sales tax.
  Multiple extreme-right Republicans say that Speaker McCarthy has 
promised them a vote on their national sales tax bill, which they 
guilefully refer to as the ``FairTax Act.'' Nothing could be less fair 
to the American people. In a universe of bad ideas, a Republican 
national sales tax reigns supreme. This proposal, pushed by the MAGA 
fringe, who now controls the House Republican conference, would impose 
a 30-percent tax on every single purchase Americans make just as 
inflation is beginning to drop. This so-called FairTax is truly foul 
legislation for American families.
  For young families who want to buy a home, well, the Republican tax 
plan would add nearly $125,000 extra on top of the price you pay for 
your house--an impossible sum for many young people struggling to get 
their start in life.
  And what about Americans out there thinking of buying a car? Under 
the Republican tax plan, the average American would pay $10,000 more on 
that single purchase alone.
  What about seniors getting ready for retirement? A Republican 
national sales tax means people's life savings would suddenly lose 30 
percent of their value. Imagine working your entire life, playing by 
the rules, paying your taxes, saving a little of each paycheck only to 
have Republicans swoop in and erase nearly a third--a third--of what 
you have saved up.
  And it doesn't end there.
  Under the Republican tax plan, a mere trip to the grocery store would 
be torture. Eggs are high enough right now at $4.25 a dozen. They would 
be $5.50 under the Republican plan. Milk, right now, is $4.40. It would 
cost $5.70 under the Republican plan. The same holds true for 
everything else: bread, produce, canned goods, cleaning supplies, soap, 
shampoo, toothpaste, diapers--you name it. All of it would go up by a 
third for millions of families--millions, tens of millions, probably 
hundreds of millions. It would be a devastating blow.
  But do you know who wouldn't mind a Republican national sales tax? 
The ultrarich, the ultrawealthy. The top 1 percent of our earners 
wouldn't notice much change in expenses. That is who would win under 
the Republicans' proposal--the very, very rich--because their taxes 
would be greatly reduced even further, even worse than under the Trump 
tax cuts. No wonder, then, that even Grover Norquist--no friend of the 
Democrats--calls this bill a ``terrible idea'' and an ``assault on your 
retirement savings.''
  Look, if Republicans want to start their majority with a debate on 
their national sales tax bill, Democrats would welcome it. Let the 
American people see which party is fighting for everyday folks and 
which party is trying to rig the game in favor of the ultrarich. It is 
a debate the American people need to see.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________