[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 15112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     WYOMING TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION

  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to submit for the Record a 
document that I think everyone in this body should consider.
  There is no question that our Nation is facing a challenging 
financial future.
  Our country needs real leadership to recognize the problems that we 
are facing and address them directly.
  For 75 years, my home State has benefited from the knowledge and 
expertise of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association. The Wyoming Taxpayers 
Association has fought for transparency, equity, balance, and stability 
for Wyoming taxpayers.
  There is no question that the U.S Tax Code is a mess and in need of 
serious reform.
  As we look to address our debt crisis and reform the Tax Code, we 
should take a responsible, sensible approach to taxation.
  The Wyoming Taxpayers Association's ``Cornerstones of Taxation'' 
provides an excellent foundation that we should consider as we debate 
the future of the U.S. Tax Code.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record the Wyoming 
Taxpayers Association's ``Cornerstones of Taxation.''
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

      Wyoming Taxpayers Association's ``Cornerstones of Taxation''

       Justification:
       Is there a justified need for the tax and is it fiscally 
     prudent?
       Are existing government funds spent efficiently before 
     considering a new tax?
       Is the primary goal of the tax to generate revenue or does 
     it modify behavior or influence policy?
       Equity:
       Does the tax impose equal and uniform liabilities upon 
     similarly situated taxpayers?
       Is the tax constitutional?
       Does the tax disadvantage one taxpayer over another?
       Balance:
       Does the tax result in diversification in taxation?
       Does the tax influence decisions regarding spending, saving 
     or investing?
       Does the tax concentrate a financial burden on a few and 
     will the tax distort economic behavior?
       Stability:
       Is the tax stable and predictable under changing political, 
     economic, regulatory and environmental conditions?
       Transparency:
       Is the tax visible, accountable and auditable?
       Is the tax easy to understand, administer and cost 
     effective to collect?

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