[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 18]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24900]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   STATEMENT ON INTRODUCTION OF THE COST OF GOVERNMENT AWARENESS ACT

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                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 19, 2007

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Cost of Government 
Awareness Act, which repeals one of the most deceptive practices of the 
federal government--income tax withholding. Withholding keeps many 
Americans ignorant about the true size of the federal tax burden. 
Withholding is also the reason millions of Americans overpay their 
income taxes, granting the United States Government interest-free 
loans. Many of these taxpayers are further misled into thinking the 
U.S. Government is acting benevolently when they receive ``refunds'' of 
money improperly taken from them through withholding!
  Collecting taxes via withholding damages the economy because it 
forces every business in America to waste valuable resources complying 
with the withholding tax requirements. The Internal Revenue Service is 
so fanatical about forcing employers to act as de facto federal agents 
that it once confiscated the assets of a church because the church 
refused to violate the church's religious beliefs by acting as a tax 
collector. The IRS sent armed federal agents in this house of worship, 
even though the church's employees regularly paid taxes.
  When the United States Government implemented withholding in 1943, it 
promised the American people that this would be a ``temporary'' 
measure. I am sure my colleagues agree that 64 years is a sufficient 
lifespan for any ``temporary'' measure. It is time to end the deceptive 
practice of withholding and empower taxpayers to reflect upon their tax 
bill each month and ask, ``What are they getting for their money.'' An 
honest answer to that question may lead to a groundswell for true tax 
reform.
  In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to let the 
American people know their tax burden by cosponsoring the Cost of 
Government Awareness Act.

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