As part of Squeaker of the House Kevin "Qevin" McCarthy's pathetic quest to be Speaker of the House, he promised some of his caucus' most rabid pro-plutocrat members to back a nutty, regressive tax proposal for a national sales tax of 30%. The tax would replace the income, estate and payroll taxes, and abolish the IRS, handing their mega wealthy donors a lasting gift. How big a gift? An analysis by the Tax Policy Center estimates that the top 1% would have their taxes reduced by 40%, while middle and working class families would end up paying more. The Center's analysis says that, "In other words, the more you make, the lower your tax burden, and the less you make, the higher--a mirror image of today’s moderately progressive tax system." From the linked Politico article:
"Most GOP members appear determined to distance themselves as much as possible from the idea, and McCarthy himself said this week he doesn’t support the legislation. But Democrats aren’t going to let the issue die quietly. They’ve been more than happy to use it as a cudgel to portray Republicans as dangerous radicals. [snip]
Various forms of the legislation, dubbed the 'FairTax Act,' have been around for decades and attracted little serious attention from Republican leaders. But a spokesperson for Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, one of the 21 GOP holdouts who initially blocked McCarthy’s speakership bid and is a co-sponsor of the legislation, said McCarthy promised that the legislation would go through the committee process." (our emphasis)
The article goes on to note that many House Republicans are treating the so-called "Fair Tax" Act as "radioactive," knowing that it's a clear giveaway to the wealthiest, and a burden on the middle class. But it's a long-time hobby horse of the social Darwinist far-right, whose simple, avaricious faith is "survival of the wealthiest is survival of the fittest." Democrats need to spotlight this Republican "Fair Tax" proposal, explain it to voters, and hang it on the neck of every Republican running for office every day. It's a political gift to them, and it would be political malpractice to waste it.
