May 03 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C.— At a Senate Finance Committee hearing today, Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) raised concerns over who pays taxes and whether the tax code is fair to hard-working American taxpayers.
“The answer to our country’s fiscal spending binge, is not for taxpayers to foot even more of the bill, especially when more than half of all American households in 2009 paid no income taxes at all,” said Roberts. “So we ask ourselves what the purpose of the tax code is, to raise revenue, to support the government, or do we see it as a major mechanism for wealth redistribution and whether or not that is appropriate? Our nation is filled with hard-working and capable people who deserve to succeed in all their endeavors and who, furthermore, deserve to have a fair and simple tax system that helps them accomplish these things. I have long supported efforts to make the tax code simpler and fairer for all taxpayers. At this point in time, all options for reform must be put on the table for consideration and debate.”
During today’s hearing on whether the distribution of tax burdens and benefits are equitable, a new analysis by the non-partisan Joint Committee on Tax was unveiled. The committee estimates that 51% of American households did not pay any federal income tax in 2009. While many of these households paid other taxes, such as payroll, excise, and state and local taxes, the fact that 49% of American households shoulder the burden for all of federal income tax owed raises concerns about fairness in the tax code.
You can click here to listen to Senator Roberts question the panel about the tax code at the hearing.
You can click here to listen to Senator Roberts question the panel at the hearing or press play below.
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