The Republican Presidential Candidates Positions on Tax Reform

One of the most polarizing issues of the campaign is tax reform. Each Republican Candidate has his own idea of what the perfect tax plan would be. Some of the Republican Candidates have very comprehensive plans announced and some of the Republican Candidates have not gone into depth on Tax Reform There are those who believe in going with what we have now, reforming what we have now and some who want to do something entirely different and scrap the system altogether. As a group, the Republican Candidates do support reform. Be informed about all the choices the Republican Candidates offer. Tax Reform is one issue that will always be debated.

As a Republican Candidate, Senator Sam Brownback is a proponent of lower takes for all. His tax reform record includes co sponsoring a bill to repeal the Marriage Tax, "Permanent Marriage Penalty Relief Act" (S.181). He also favors keeping the tax cuts of the Bush Administration passed in 2001 and 2003 and making them permanent, supports the Child Tax Credit and the repeal of the Death Tax. He supports the Parents Tax Relief Act , and Simplifying the Tax Code On his Republican Candidates campaign web site he states, "I believe America's tax code is overly complex and burdensome. Americans spend roughly $157 billion each year in tax preparation, to ensure they do not run afoul of the Internal Revenue Service. The system is desperately in need of reform. I support a flat tax concept that simplifies tax preparation, applies a low tax rate to all Americans, and respects the special financial burden carried by American families raising children."

Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia, has a reform policy advocating tax cuts. On his Republican Presidential Candidates web site, he states, "As a candidate for President, Jim Gilmore supports efforts to reduce taxes including making the Bush tax cuts permanent. Jim Gilmore believes high taxes are too great a burden on the nation's economy and on working families. As President, he will work to close tax loopholes, reduce runaway spending and create jobs and opportunity to help end the nation's culture of dependence."