Lowering the Tax Burden

Leading the fight to reduce the tax burden on Wisconsin families and small businesses. I believe that Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem.
Proposing comprehensive legislation to make individual taxes fairer and simpler, and level the playing field for American-made goods and services in the international marketplace.
At a time of tremendous economic strain, I have raised the alarm against the largest tax increase in American history – which was recently called for by Congress. Wisconsin families and manufacturers simply cannot afford these massive tax hikes.

I have been a fierce advocate on behalf of the taxpayer in Congress. Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem. Unfortunately, many in Congress don’t share this viewpoint, and have recently passed legislation that calls for the largest tax increase in American history. Despite my strident opposition, the House passed budget resolution would increase taxes on Wisconsinites by an average of $2,964. Tax increases would be felt by all Americans, and includes the reimposition of the marriage tax penalty and a reduction in the child tax credit. With an economic downturn, job losses, record high gas prices, increased food prices and government spending at an all time high, the last thing taxpayers need is higher taxes.

I have advanced reforms to a tax code that is too complicated, too burdensome and puts American-made products at a competitive disadvantage to foreign competitors. For individuals, I have proposed a flatter, simpler system for taxpayers to pay their income taxes. You would be able to choose to pay your taxes using the current code - with all of its deductions, credits, and so on – or under the simplified tax option with just two low rates and with a tax form that would fit on a postcard. I believe that we should not double and triple-tax Americans – have sought to eliminate the death tax, the Alternative Minimum Tax, along with taxes on savings.

I have proposed to level the playing field for American-made products to compete against foreign competitors, making it easier for American manufacturers to keep jobs in the U.S. Our current corporate tax is the second highest in the industrialized world, which kills American jobs and puts American companies at a competitive disadvantage in the 21st-century global economy. My Roadmap proposal would end these backwards tax policies and put American workers in the position to thrive, instead of struggling to survive, in this period of economic uncertainty.

Since becoming Ranking Member on the House Budget Committee, I have put forward budgets each year that balance the budget without raising taxes. I will continue to work to balance the budget, stop tax increases, protect the Social Security Trust Fund, and stop wasteful spending. I believe that Washington must put the taxpayers first – not the government.